– Defectors, Scared Of Indictment For Sundry Offences
‘’The Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in Imo State is more formidable, determined and better positioned to win the November, 11, 2023 governorship election.
The exit of some of our members who defected to the All Progressive Congress APC is inconsequential. Besides they left to avoid being indicted for sundry offences’’.
The State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Engr Charles Ugwu who stated this in a statement he issued on Tuesday, June, 20, 2023, while commenting on the recent development posited that the leaders and stakeholders of the party are more determined to win the forthcoming governorship election in the state with the party’s flag bearer, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
He urged members and supporters of the party to be focused, confident and undaunted, stressing that the most important now is how to sack the incumbent administration reclaim Douglas House and restore the lost glory of the state.
The statement reads in part, ‘’ The statement read: “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’’.
‘’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 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, instead said that they defected to avoid being indicted for having allegedly mismanaged party funds including N1.4 billion 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,” Barr Bede Ojimmadu, the State financial secretary who read the statement said.
“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 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 for, a committee was set up and 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’’.
