Everest Ezihe || For allegedly saying that Barrister Nnamdi Anyaehie is still the authentic state Chairman of Imo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as against Barr. Charles Ezekwem led state executive members that were recently re-confirmed and ratified by both the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) and the PDP National Non-Elective Convention; Senator Hope Uzodimma has been advised by the leadership of Imo State PDP to stop spreading falsehood that may earn him anti-party activities and eventual suspension from the party.
Hon. Damian Oparah, the State Publicity Secretary of Barr. Ezekwem led Imo State PDP leadership stated this is a three paged press release dated 24/8/2017 and made available to The Authority in Owerri.
They accused the Distinguished Senator representing Orlu Senatorial Zone of saying during the “purported stakeholders meeting” held in Owerri last weekend of threatening to use police to arrest the members of Barr. Charles Ezekwem led state executives despite their recognition as the authentic state executives of the party.
They pointed out that Senator Uzodimma also allegedly said that the old party office at No. 47 Okigwe Road, Owerri shall remain the State Headquarters of the party in Imo State, and ordering illegal party officers in the various local governments and wards to form parallel structures of the party in the state.
Hon. Oparah in the Press Statement said that there is only one State Executive Committee of the party in Imo State, and led by Barr. Charles Ezekwem.
They said that the Barr. Ezekwem led state executive was inaugurated on the 8th day of August 2016 after a duly monitored state Party Congress by all the relevant security agencies including INEC.
That this State Executive together with local government and wards executives of the party in Imo State was re-confirmed by the National Executive Committee of the party on Friday 11/08/2017 and was thereafter ratified by the PDP non- executive National Convention of the party on Saturday 12/08/2017, and this ratification they said put to rest the issue of authenticity of PDP leadership in Imo State.
They further informed that the National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party is the Supreme organ of the party and Senator Hope Uzodimma knows that no other authority in PDP is higher than the PDP National Convention and any decision taken at that party level cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand.
They also stated that the Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Maka’Fr has written to the Inspector General of Police Communicating to him that the only authentic PDP State Executives in Imo State known to him is the one led by Barr. Charles Ezekwem and that the Inspector General of Police had equally since communicated the information to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, Barr. Chris Ejike.
The release further said that the party’s National Chairman also informed the Inspector General of Police that the new office of PDP in Imo State is at No. 98 Okigwe Road, Owerri, insisting all these letters with instructions and directions are with the State Commissioner of Police and for implementation.
They expressed disgust that Senator Uzodimma is allegedly withholding these truths, that are supposed to unite and strengthened the party in Imo State for some party members and that Imo State PDP viewed this attitude as a betrayal, serious deception and misinformation to some party members.
The release equally equivocally stated that Senator Hope Uzodimma by the constitution of the political party is not the apex leader of the party in Imo State, rather he is only a Senator Representing the 12 Local Government Areas that constitutes Imo West Senatorial district which is not the entire Imo State.
The state leadership of PDP, therefore, enjoined all their numerous party members to discountenance such statements from the Senator’s camp and remain committed to the political party under the leadership of Barr. Charles Ezekwem and do all party transactions at No. 98 Okigwe Road, Owerri and Jettison any information coming from the old party office at No. 47 Okigwe Road, Owerri and that at the appropriate time the party properties at No. 47 Okigwe Road, Owerri shall be duly retrieved.
