Mass resignation and suspension have hit the embattled People’s Democratic Party Imo State chapter as the party’s former gubernatorial candidate and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha led over 30 members to tender their resignation letters after the emergency National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja.
Ihedioha, while leading the exodus, cited the party’s failure to perform its function as a credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.
At least eight officials of the PDP in Imo State have resigned from the party.
The members who have quit the party include former Deputy Governor, Gerald Ironna, immediate past state chairman, Charles Ugwu, Kissinger Ikeokwu (state legal adviser), Emenike Nmeregini (acting state publicity secretary), David Abanihi (assistant treasurer), Obioma Iheduru (secretary, Imo PDP elders’ committee), and Nwokeke Chukwuemeka (zonal organising secretary, Okigwe zone).
Others are Stanley Ekezie (south-east zonal ex officio member), Marcel Nwankwo (ex-House of Representatives aspirants), Augustine Okeke (south-east zonal publicity secretary), and Onwubuariri Kingsley (former member of the House of Representatives).
Chris Okewulonu, Ajachukwu Eze, and Johncee Nwaiwu are other party members that tendered their resignation letters.
The list also included Ikenga Mayor Eze (ex Rep member), Dr. Vin Udokwu – Ex Chief of Staff, Imo Government House, Evang Anozie Udenwa – state youth leader, Barr Sonny-Unachukwu John – Ikeduru State Assembly candidate, Hon Pius Omah – Isiala Mbano State Assembly candidate, Engr Sly Enwerem Ex Commissioner, Hon Chief Nkiruka Ibekwe Esq – ex commissioner, Chief Sir Martin Opara (Ikemba), Mrs Ann Njoku, High Chief Angus Okorie, Chief Sir Edward Uzoechila Ezeh, Chief Ben Mere – Owerri Zonal Organizing secretary and Prince Macdonald Enwerem – Owerri zonal secretary and former vice chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri and onetime education commissioner, Prof Jude Njoku.
They conveyed their resignation in various letters addressed to their ward chairpersons.
On Tuesday, Ihedioha, a former governorship candidate of the party in the state, resigned from the PDP.
Among several allegations leveled against Damagum, the members claimed that he tampered with the caretaker committee member lists in Rivers and 10 other states.
But at last Thursday’s NEC meeting, the party extended Damagum’s stay in office by another three months rubbishing their allegations even though the party asked the national working committee to reconstitute the committee lists across the states.
But the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said the party could not do that because the matter is in Court.
“All that is happening to the PDP in the state is not surprising. It’s been long expected. The party has not been fair to the South East and I can tell you that that was perpetrated by some of these people resigning from the party”
Elder statesman and third republic politician Ambrose Ezewunwa told The Point that mass resignation that has hit the PDP is a sign of new political landscape unfolding in the state and the entire south east.
He said, “Imo State and the entire South East have been predominantly PDP since the return of democracy in 1999 regardless of those who left the party to win elections in other political parties with the support from PDP supporters. In the last election, PDP had it very rough at all levels in the elections. They were in disarray. They didn’t have a house talk less of putting it in order. We knew here in the state that most of them who were parading themselves as members of the party are members of APC at night. Even some of these ones that resigned, Imo people know the role they played in the last election. In fact, I can say it’s a good omen for politics in Imo State. They have paved the way for others and other political parties can inherit them. This is politics in our country.”
Ezewunwa also linked the problem of the PDP to the disregard the party showed to its major catchment area which is the South East.
He said the party did not treat the South East well after all the loyalty it enjoyed from the zone and added that this day has been long awaited.
“All that is happening to the PDP in the state is not surprising. It’s been long expected. The party has not been fair to the South East and I can make bold to tell you that that was perpetrated by some of these people resigning from the party. They made sure that if they didn’t get it, it shouldn’t come to the South East and that was a dangerous pit they dug, now they have fallen into it. They became moles working against the party in both the state and zone. As they have left the party, one big question is will the party collapse or will it wax stronger? Let’s watch as events unfold, in no distant time the result will be placed on the table. But this action will definitely create a new political dispensation in Imo State,” he said.
To Silva Emeka, a political analyst and lawyer, the mass resignation of PDP members marks an array of hope for the best both for the party and state.
“This is hope rising for both the party and Imo State. These ones resigning are those that have held the party in their custody, deciding what will happen on a daily basis even when their decisions have not helped the party. It’s in their time the PDP became relegated to toothless opposition in the state they were in charge of. They are always fighting among themselves.
“Some of them remained in the barracks while others came and left as soldiers but the time has come for the reality. One of them turned the governorship ticket into a birthright. If it was not him, whosoever that got the ticket has committed a sacrilege. His supporters would definitely work against that candidate and that was why anti-party was high in PDP in Imo and APC caught them where they wanted them.
“Their resignation, to me, does not make any difference rather it has shone rays of hope for the best. I only wonder what will happen in the party they will be heading to but definitely I know it can’t be the Labour Party except they are not going as a team. Remember what Emeka Ihedioha said about the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi and the party in Ghana during the campaign. Also, the party’s governorship candidate in last year’s governorship election, Athan Achonu as it is now is the leader of the party and I bet you, he cannot surrender that position to any of these people.
“They may want to take over if allowed to join the LP. So you see, their becoming a member of the LP is hanging in the balance. When you talk of joining APC, it’s another herculean task except they will be ready to queue behind those already in the line. The only option I think they have is APGA or the lesser parties but the Ihedioha I know can’t go for a smaller party.”
Emeka also accused the politicians, particularly from the state of selfishness and greed.
He said, “They are only interested in themselves and what they will benefit from. They are ready to pull the roof down, scatter the house if they fail to get what they want. One individual wants to be a perennial governorship candidate of the party. Every four years he wants to pick the ticket. Look at what happened in the last election. The national secretary of the party also became the gubernatorial candidate while still holding tight to the NWC position. They always violate the constitution and no internal democracy, all you get is from one intra-party crisis to another.”
A chieftain of the party who preferred anonymity said the mass resignation of some members is a good riddance to bad rubbish.
“We have nothing to lose in our dear party. They have left us before their open resignation. Many of them did anti-party activities in the last governorship election. They worked against our candidate and worked for the governor who was an APC candidate. I will not be surprised if they troop into the APC. I have done the calculation; they are not likely to join the Labour Party. Their next destination will be either APC or APGA, that is if APC refuses their bargain.
“How can one person be our candidate for three elections? Is the party for him only? They claimed that we are not performing as a credible opposition. That was how some of them jumped out and jumped into APC before the election, today they are regretting their move because what they thought they will get was not forthcoming. The governor has appointed commissioners and special assistants, none of them was considered. These ones will also do the same and that time they will be asked to queue.”
Ikenga Adighibemma, a Chieftain of the Labour Party described the resigned PDP members as fair weather politicians always seeking for greener pastures.
He said, “Their track records will hinder them from being absorbed by the LP because they sabotaged even their party in the last election, so if they are given a chance in our party, we should be ready for a crisis. They are not bringing anything new to the party. They will be the ones to benefit if we welcome them to our party. We have bigwigs, timber and caliber and are already established as a force in the political roadmap in Nigeria. Anyway, I have spoken my opinion, not party’s nonetheless, I might not be too far from the reality and party thinking. We want members but not those who will come and put our house on fire,” he said.
The Director General, APC New Media, Imo State chapter, Cajetan Duke in a telephone interview with The Point said the party’s doors are open to receive new members regardless of the party they previously belonged to.
He however said those wanting to join the APC should realize that the party is an organized party that obey rules and constitution with internal democracy.
Duke maintained that the party has nothing to benefit from them rather they will be the beneficiaries.
“We have, as it were, all it will take to win elections in the state. If they want to join us, we are running an open door political party so they are welcome but not that they are bringing anything to the table. What are they bringing to the party? Nothing.
“We are not lacking anything. Our party is on the ground. We are solid so if we accept them it’s for their benefits. Meanwhile, they must realize that the party is about being in queue. We will not tolerate people joining us today and by tomorrow they are angling to take over the leadership of the party. Our leader, Governor Hope Uzodimma has always said that the party is open to all. We can’t do it alone so we welcome them if APC is their destination.”
“Our leader, Governor Hope Uzodimma has always said that the party is open to all. We can’t do it alone so we welcome them if APC is their destination”
APC chieftain urges Ihedioha to work with Tinubu
Meanwhile, Uche Nwosu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has urged Ihedioha and other chieftains, who recently resigned from the PDP to join the APC to work for the success of President Bola Tinubu.
Nwosu, an APC chieftain in the state, noted that joining the ruling party would give Ihedioha, who was a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, the opportunity to work with Governor Hope Uzodimma and President Bola Tinubu.
While speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, Nwosu urged Ihedioha and other former PDP chieftains to join the APC and work with Uzodimma for the development and growth of the state.
He said, “l know that since they left, a lot of people including my humble self, have been wondering what could be or what is likely to be their next political action or move and there have been a lot of speculations to that effect.
“I have also considered a lot of factors or indices and have seen that the most popular action for them to take in this situation is to join the ruling party, APC.
“This is the most progressive action for them to take. Joining APC is the only people-orientated action they should take now. And that would give them room to work with President Bola Tinubu, Governor Hope Uzodimma and other leaders in the party at both the national and state levels, for the progress of our dear country.”
While commending lhedioha and others for having the courage to quit, Nwosu described their departure as a big loss to the PDP.
The former chief of staff also prayed that God would guide and give them the wisdom to see the reasons to toe his line of thought.
