…Ugwu: Party remains only strong force to sack APC.
…Fin Sec:7 defectors ran, to escape indictment.
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Imo State, Chief Charles Ugwuh has said that the resignation of seven members of the State Working Committee, SWC and their subsequent defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress,APC does not reduce the strength of the party.
Ugwuh stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday, June 20, in reaction to the recent development in the party.
According to him,”the leaders and stakeholders of the party are unwavering in their quest to win the November 11 governorship election in the State with the party’s standard-bearer, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu(Samdaddy).
The statement read in part: “It is no longer news that seven (7) members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imo State, have resigned their positions and consequently joined the All Progressives Congress, APC .
“While this may seem grievous on face, it is important to educate the general public and our teeming supporters that the structure, manifesto and construction of PDP is inherently robust and resilient to the extent that no vacancy at any scale, has the capacity to undermine the functionality of the party at any level
“This is evident from historical antecedents, where pessimistic commentators had predicted the extinction of PDP, yet the party remained as strong as ever.
“In this regard, critical consultations amongst stakeholders have been done, and the stakeholders are unequivocal that the party is resolute in her quest to win the November 11 governorship election with her flag-bearer Senator Samuel Anyanwu.”
Ugwuh therefore called on the members and supporters of the party to remain confident, focused and in good spirits, insisting that the objective remains to reclaim the Imo seat of power.
Earlier on Monday, members of the PDP State executive in a World Press conference at the party’s State Secretariat at #98 Okigwe Road Owerri, the State capital, wherein it clarified issues about the defection.
Addressing the Press, the State Financial Secretary, Bede Ojimmadu dismissed the allegations against the PDP Governorship candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, by the defectors which they adduced as the reason for their defection.
He instead said that they defected to avoid being indicted for having allegedly mismanaged party funds including N1.4 billion 2023 Campaign funds.
“The first point we will like to make is that the resignation you witnessed, yesterday happened at the State level. Our party is organized in layers right to the various wards. The defection does not in any way affect Imo PDP,” Ojimmadu asserted.
“We want to make it clear to Imo people that the fabric of the party is still intact. All of its organs are well and functioning, so there is no cause for alarm.”
“They are just trying to run away from being indicted but that will not save them. The report will soon be completed and made known to the public.
“Among the issue is the over N1.4 billion Campaign fund sent to Imo state during the Presidential Campaign in the state. The money has remained unaccounted.
A committee, he further stated was set up and is investigating the way the monies coming into the party were spent and before you know it they resigned their positions in the party.
“I want to say this, my office as the financial secretary, did not receive any money because some people who felt they are bigger than the party usurped my position and they misappropriated party funds.”
“The seven members of the party took their overdue stay in the party and exited. Their exit is not a concern of the party. It is the legitimate right they have left. It is not the first time. The option left is to find capable hands to replace them.
“The issue is the undercurrent that we have witnessed. Even the monies budgeted for the presidential election were diverted. They left when the party committee was about to submit its report.”
Other members of the executive present at the press briefing include the State legal adviser, Barr. Kissinger Ikeokwu; zonal vice Chairman (Owerri Zone), Barr. Uche Igbokwe; zonal vice Chairman (Okigwe Zone), Engr. Chidi Dike; 21 LGA Youth LGAs; several candidates of the party in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections and their coordinators among others.
The state financial secretary of the party in Imo State, Bede Ejimmadu who spoke on behalf of the party, listed the seven SWC members to include the state vice chairman, Martin Ejiogu, the state secretary, Ray Emeana; state publicity secretary,
Collins Opuruzor; state woman leader, Maria Mbakwe; state youth leader,Nwadike and another two officers.
“I want to say this, my office as the financial secretary, did not receive any money because some people who felt they are bigger than the party usurped my position,” Ejimmadu alleged.
NIGERIA NEWSPOINT
