From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
There are indications that the internal squabbles currently rocking People’s Democratic Party, PDP, especially in Imo State may polarized the political party ahead of 2027, if unchecked and aborted, as Ikenga Ugochinyere Michael Ikeagwuonu, representing Ideato Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives has threatened to dump the party immediately, and with his massive structures and intimidating followership, if the party treats him again with disdain and levity.
Ikeagwuonu popularly known as Ikenga Ugochinyere, an quintessential youthful politician revealed this in Owerri during a well attended press briefing at NUJ Secretariat along Port Harcourt Road.
The Federal lawmaker pointed out that, “despite my loyalty and contributions to the political party, It’s unfair, that PDP as a political party conspired against their only man standing, by gathering people in Osina Market and said they have expelled me from the party, for no just a course. Is this not madness ? How do you dare do that, to your shining light and ambassador ? If you are ever committed in building the political party, can you ever think of doing that to your candidate and to your only leading light ?
“Honestly, because they have no stake, but for mere selfish interest, they wants to destroy the political party and sale it out to the ruling federal government ? Of course, we went to court and the purported expulsion was quashed by the court for lacks of contempt and jurisdiction.
“However, have we been treated fair ?, obviously, we have not been treated fairly, despite also our investments, loyalty and supports. Are we worried about that and them ? No ! We are not worried about their antics. Are we going to move ? Yes ! We’re going to move, if they don’t treat us with respect and dignity we deserved and earned for the party.
“The obvious truth is that our legs are not legally nor politically tired any where. If we’re treated fine, we will remain, but if they continue to treat us like outcast, and with these their nonsenses, before you closed your eyes in 3 seconds, me, my loyalists and my supporters are out of the door, especially when that time comes.The same goes to other political parties.
“We have worked so hard, that we are the most beautiful bride, because if you take us, we’re bringing values, it’s not the other way round, thus, what ever any political party has, we have it in abundance any day, any time. For me to make it abundantly clear, for now, we are still where we’re. We have not moved, we have not equally taking any decision to move, like I earlier said, if you treat us fine, we will be with you, and if you don’t treat us fine we will definitely be in another direction.
“However, make no mistake about it, I will never go through the kind of pains or sufferings I went during the first primary, to an extent that I was disqualified 3 hours to the primary and later reinstated, even when I won the primary, they submitted another person’s name, prompting me to go to court to regain my mandate. Am not ready again for all these undemocratic practices and injustices , once the political party primary is riddled with crisis, please count me out of it.
“The truth about all these, is that, if they treat us well, we will still be with them, but if they treat us with levity, we will find ourselves to the next better alternative, like enyi na aga anyi so gi na azu, gwodo gwogwo. Honestly, we are not looking for where to go” he assured.
He also said that, “there’s one pertinent question, are we being treated fine in PDP ? The answer is emphatically no. It’s unfortunate that in Imo State, we have some political leaders and stakeholders, who thinks that the only way to be politically relevant is to serve tea at Chief Nyesom Wike’s table, because you run errands for Wike, therefore Imo State should be in your pocket, not because you have character nor the capacity and competence.
“Unfortunately, they keep creating problem. You can imagine how they treated me because they took instructions from Nyesom Wike. However, is this bordering us ? Emphatically, no.
“Recalled that PDP never won election in my Federal Constituency for the past 15 years, but I broke the jinx. If there’s any body, they should treat with respect, dignity and tenaciously protected, it should be me, because any moment I pull my structures, the political party will collapse in 10 seconds. Honestly, am not boosting about it.
“When they took away the ticket of the man that won the primary of Ideato South State Assembly, Chief Chris Ogbu in 2023, what did it took us to effect the change within 48 hours ? And I raised the hand of the other man from Accord Party and he won the ruling State government candidate in his ward during the general election, that’s to justify how strong our Movement is, we beat him in his Ward, and even in his father’s household and that’s to tell you how strong and formidable our political structures, family and movement are. So why should we worry ? But have been treated with levity and contempt.
“We have been treated badly because of Senator Samdaddy Anyanwu, the National Secretary of PDP, often I asked myself what did we do wrong ? Even when he came with his governorship ambition that’s likened to local lantern, we still offered ourselves even against the advise of most of the stakeholders and populace, that I should not be identified with such unpopular ambition, we said no and staked out our necks because of our love and passion for the political party for a man who seems to be unassailable.
“I never knew he was not prepared to run for the gubernatorial election, he was merely grandstanding and led PDP to shameful defeat, even in the midst of that pitiable but avoidable defeat, Ideato nation was one of the places he got the highest number of votes and the State government won with a mere 5,000 as total votes because our people resisted their massive rigging plans to a resemble extent” he informed .
Ugochinyere reiterated that his people have asked him never to be worried over his next political ambition and election, as they said, “we elected you, while you were in exile”.
He expressed satisfaction that his political structure, EDF is deeply rooted in every family in Ideato North and South, noting that any political party they ran election with, they will certainly win, because the masses are with them.
“The last general election, I won my election in exile. It’s not only that I won, I won the election landslide even though I was in exile. The State government with their APC candidate won in only one polling unit out of 345 polling booths.
“Our people are so proud of the historical feat, because it has never happened before even in the political history of Nigeria, moreso not even the Governor’s wife from Dikenafia could win in her polling booth. This is a true demonstration of popularity, acceptability and genuine love by my people”.
He finally thanked Imo based Journalists for their massive support and encouragements, noting that he was just elected to represent the people, an assignment he said he has done efficiently and effectively.
