By Myke Uzendu
The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has attained a new dimension as former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, former Imo State Secretary to the State government, Hon. (Barr.) Chris Okewulonu and nine others on Tuesday resigned their membership of the major opposition party.
Others who also dumped the umbrella include: Stanley Ekezie, South East Zonal Ex-officio member; Kissinger Ikeokwu, Imo State PDP Legal Adviser; Mazi Emenike Nmeregini, Assistant State Publicity Secretary; Hon. Onwubuariri Kingsley, former House of Rep member; Chief David Abanihi, State Assistant Treasurer; Obioma Iheduru, Secretary Imo PDP Elders Committee; Nwokeke Chukwuemeka, Zonal Organizing Sercretary, Okigwe Zone; Johncee Nwaiwu and Hon. Marcel Nwankwo.
Though they did not state the party they will be moving into, all the decampees thanked the PDP for providing giving them the platform for political participation and wished it well.
Hon. Ihedioha who was the last PDP governor to rule Imo State, said that he is painfully leaving the party as a result of irreconcilable differences adding that the party has failed to enforce its own rules and offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
In his resignation letter addressed to The Chairman, Mbutu Ward, Aboh Mbaise LGA, Imo State, which was sighted by our reporter, Ihedioha said that the party has not been able to carry out internal reforms following the internal crisis that has continued unabated.
The letter reads, “Resignation From The Peoples Democratic Party”
“Since 1998, I have contributed my quota to the development and transformation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as one of the founding members. All these years, I have taken pride in the fact that the PDP is a party that will always look inward for internal reforms and provide credible leadership for the people, whether in power or outside power. I have had the benefit of serving and benefitting from the party at various levels.
“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. 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.
“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party effective immediately. While this decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is the right one. Despite this resignation, I will always be available to offer my services towards the deepening of democracy and good governance in Nigeria”.
The former SSG who did not explicitly state why he decided to abandon the party that has enabled him realize his political ambition merely stated, “As you are very much aware, I have been a loyal member and enabler of the party at the Ward, LGA, State and National levels since its inception.
“My decision has not been lightly arrived at, but was rather based on the outcome of due consultations with my family, supporters and associates”.
“I wish to thank you and the party members for all the cooperation and support accorded me during my membership of the party”.
Other decampees also sent their resignation letters to the ward and state chairman.
You may wish to note that Ihedioha is one of the lieutenants of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who is fighting hard to dislodge from the party’s leadership, the Acting Chairman, Sen. Umar Damagum and other NWC members perceived to be loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The Atiku camp are rooting for former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan as a replacement but the 98th National Executive Committee Meeting (NEC) held last Thursday, said that the party will commence move to fill the vacuum created by the removal of its former National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu at a NEC meeting slated for August, 2024 a development that has not gone down well with the Atiku camp.
Meanwhile, a source at the National Secretariat of the party further told our reporter in confidence that Ihedioha is still bitter over Sen. Samuel Anyanwu who is the National Secretary of the party and has hijacked the structure of the party.
According to the source, “Ihedioha was part of the group pushing for the removal of Anyanwu as National Secretary of the party during his ill-fated journey to contest the Imo state governorship election.
“Ihedioha was behind the meeting held by the PDP stakeholders, in Enugu where the Deputy National Chairman, South East, Ali Odefa announced that the zone has unanimously appointed former National Youth Leader of the Party, S.K.E Ude Okoye to replace Anayanwu as national secretary.
“However, it has become clearer to Ihedioha that the structure of the party is still under the control of Anyanwu who is also a close ally of Nyesom Wike. Ihedioha as a very experienced politician, knows that he will neither get the ticket of the party to contest for governorship nor Senate and may not be able to sponsor anyone to any position having been dislodged by Anyanwu, hence he toed the path of honour by tendering his resignation from the party” the source said.
Other decampees include: Stanley Ekezie, South East Zonal Ex-officio member; Kissinger Ikeokwu, Imo State PDP Legal Adviser; Mazi Emenike Nmeregini, Assistant State Publicity Secretary; Hon. Onwubuariri Kingsley, former House of Rep member; Chief David Abanihi, State Assistant Treasurer; Obioma Iheduru, Secretary Imo PDP Elders Committee; Nwokeke Chukwuemeka, Zonal Organizing Sercretary, Okigwe Zone; Johncee Nwaiwu; and Hon. Marcel Nwankwo.
