· Call for fresh primary, say party can’t work for thugs
· Chieftain describes candidate as unmarketable, enmeshed in certificate scandal
Leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo state, including members of the party’s executive have rejected the emergence of Chidiebere OGARAKU AS THE CANDIDATE FOR Ehime Mbano state constituency in the Imo state house of assembly in 2023 on the ground that he emerged through a clandestine subversion of the peoples’ will.
This was contained in a communiqué issued by the Peoples Democratic Party at Umuezeala, Ehime Mbano, signed by 12 leaders of the party, including Cyprian Okoro, chairman of Umualumaku/Umuihim ward, Chibuzo N. Anyanwu, of Umueze I /Umuekeze ward, Emmanuel Ehiofor of Umunakanu ward, Ogba Ignatius of Umueze I ward, Duru Ogechi Ikpe, Nsu ward among others.
The communique dated July 12, 2022, reads in part, “It is with huge shock that the entire leadership and membership of PDP in Ehime-Mbano wish to draw your attention to the clandestine subversion of the will of our people in the just concluded primaries conducted by the state leadership of our party PDP.
“More disheartening was the use of machineries, people we know not to be our members in Ehime-Mbano to conduct our primaries (96% of them). This Act subjugated the party’s constituted authority in Ehime-Mbano.
“It will interest you to note that, those mercenaries led by Hon. Austin Nwachukwu; have all departed from the PDP to their various destinations. THIS IS VERIFIABLE.
“We are grossly embittered by the gravity of injury inflicted upon us and the psychological trauma this has left us with.
It is a rape of party democracy that our will as a people to use the party’s guideline and rules to produce our adhoc delegates in our wards, who will participate in the L.G.A congress to elect for us the candidate for State House of Assembly was trtincated with impunity”.
The communiqué also stated that, “We have therefore resolved not to take these humiliations anymore and demand as follows;
“That the party should quickly conduct primary for Ehime-Mbano to enable us choose our candidate for the State House of Assembly election as time is not in our favour. Further delay will jeopardize the interest of Ehime-Mbano people in particular and the party in general.
“That the party would reshuffle the present State Working Committee to enable Ehime take over its position. This will be for equity, representative democracy and fairness. To delay this any further will no doubt jeopardize the interest of our great party in Ehime-Mbano.
“That our list of adhoc delegates from the 11 wards of Ehime-Mbano PDP as
submitted by our LGA party chairman be used to conduct our primary immediately. This will enable us to produce our candidate for State House of Assembly before the expiration of the window of opportunity we have now;to withdraw the name submitted in default.
“The family of PDP in Ehime-Mbano wants to reassure you Sir that “we w\U always be very committed to supporting you and our great party with our strength and might at all times.”
A chieftain of the PDP in Ehime Mbano L.G.A who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity described, Chidiebere Ogaraku as an unmarketable candidate, who despite his obvious deficiencies is enmeshed in a certificate scandal that is presently a subject of litigation before a Federal High Court in Owerri, with Suit No: C8/91/2022 between Hon Lawrence Ifeanyi Duruji as Plaintiff and Mr Anyanwu Chidiebere Ogaraku, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as Defendants.
The plaintiff in the suit dated 6th June 2022 filed on his behalf by his counsels, Chief Uzoma Onyeike KSC and Chief C.O Osuji A.C Arb of Uzoma Onyeike and Assocaites, No 49 MCC/Uratta Road, Ikenegbu Extension, Owerri sought the following reliefs, among others; “A Declaration of the Honourable Court that in view of the apparent discrepancy in the age of the 1s‘ defendant in the documents submitted by him to the screening panel of the 2nd defendant at the party primaries held on the 25′” and 26,h day of May 2022 for election to the office of House of Assembly for Ehime Mbano State Constituency, the 13‘ defendant is not qualified to contest the election and therefore did not pass the screening for the primary election.
“An Order of the Honourable Court nullifying the declaration of the 1s‘
defendant as the winner of the primary election conducted by the 2nd
defendant for the office of House of Assembly for Ehime Mbano State
Constituency.
“An Order of the Honourable Court directing the 2nd defendant to forward the name of the plaintiff to the 3,d defendant as the 2nd defendant’s candidate for the 2023 general election for the office of the House of Assembly for Ehime Mbano State Constituency.
“An Order of the Honourable Court directing the 3rd defendant to publish the name of the plaintiff as the candidate of the 2nd defendant for the office of the House of Assembly for Ehime Mbano State Constituency as the 2nd defendant’s candidate for the 2023 general election.”
