The unresolved leadership crisis in the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following its much anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has led to a protest exit from the party by some stakeholders of the party, including the former Imo state governor, Emeka Ihedioha, Daily Trust reports.
The outcome of the NEC meeting that extended the tenure of the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, until August is seen by those rooting for him as a victory and those against it as a defeat of their mission to install a substantive national chairman for the party.
Already, Ihedioha, who has been with the party since its formation in 1998, and some chieftains of the party, mainly from the South East, have dumped the party, citing a lack of reforms and the inability of the party to adhere to its rules and regulations.
Apart from Ihedioha, some of those who also announced their resignation from the party were a former member of the Board of Trustee, Chris Okewulonu; a South East zonal Ex Officio member, Stanley Ekezie; a former member of the House of Representatives, Nwubuariri Obinna Kingsley; a former state legal adviser of the party, Kissinger Ikeokwu; Chukwuemeka Uwokeke; Professor Obioma Iheduru; and Johnnie Mwaiwu, among others.
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Sources at the party headquarters hinted that the inability of the party to follow its own rules and put in a substantive national chairman and the seeming silence on the issue of the national secretary have necessitated a wave of resignations from the party in Imo.
Recall that while addressing members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) before the NEC meeting, the BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, said one of the issues weighing heavily on the “collective conscience of members of the party is the leadership of the party as it stands.”
The former Senate President lamented that “the current acting chairman has spent over a year in office, whereas, as per the usual practice of the party, the region from which the national officer hails should have produced a viable candidate to complete the tenure of the former national officer.
“Furthermore, the contentious issue surrounding the office of the National Secretary has regrettably sown seeds of discord within our party. The ambiguity surrounding this position has led to confusion and internal strife, hindering our collective efforts to pursue our noble objectives.”
Ihedioha, a former deputy Speaker, said in his letter of resignation to the chairman of his constituency, Mbutu Ward, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, that having been a member of the PDP since its inception in 1998, recent developments in the party have only indicated a major deviation from the party’s core principles.
Ihedioha highlighted his contributions to the growth and evolution of the party, noting its historical commitment to internal reforms and providing credible leadership both in and out of power.
He voiced concerns over the party’s inability to enact internal reforms, uphold its own regulations, and effectively oppose the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the letter that was copied to the Chairman, PDP, Imo State; the National Chairman, PDP; and the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Ihedioha said, “Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly, no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules, or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.”
Party appoints an acting chairman for Imo
Meanwhile, the party has also appointed Chidi Dike as the acting chairman for Imo State, following the sack of Charles Ugwu by the Federal High Court, Awka.
The South East Zonal Organising Secretary of the party, Mike Ahumibe, presented Dike to the party stakeholders yesterday in Owerri.
Ahumibe said Dike’s appointment was constitutional and validated by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), adding that the former chairman was suspended by the party and subsequently removed by the court following his failure to perform his functions in office.
Also speaking, Dike, a former zonal vice chairman of the party in Okigwe Senatorial Zone, promised to reconcile aggrieved members and restore equity, accountability, and fairness.
The court, presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, held that Ugwu was appropriately sanctioned with a penalty of suspension and had therefore lost his right to remain in office as Imo PDP chairman.
