By Adesina Soyooye
It may not be a big merger. And its product may not be called a mega party. But it was very significant.
And, for the Imo State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is desperate to get back to power in 2023/2024, it is a good start.
On Saturday, July 4, 2020, the PDP swallowed the whole of the United Peoples Party, UPP. It consumed the party and its members.
The entire leadership of the party from the Ward straight to highest office in the state, became members of the PDP. Meaning that in Imo state, the UPP is now non-existent.
Since the PDP lost power in January to the APC in January, and suddenly became the opposition, no thanks to a Supreme Court Judgement which sacked the Rt Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, and paved the way for the APC, its Secretariat has not been as busy as it was this Saturday.
As it received into its fold, the entire leadership and membership of the UPP, joy was the word. It was infectious. And, hi- five reigned.
The feelings were worth it. Usually, smaller parties rarely empty into opposition parties. They empty into ruling parties. That is why the event was epoch-making.
Observers attribute it to the strong leadership quality of the party in the state, especially, the calm and mature qualities of the party’s Secretary, Nze Ray Emeana. “His calm and mature nature are a balm when everthing is boiling”, a staunch party member told this magazine, adding: “The party’s leadership is strong, United and focused “.
Considering the collapse of the party’s entire structures in the 305 Wards and 27 LGAs into PDP, the ceremony is the first of its kind in the history of the movement of politicians and parties from one party to the other in the country.
The PDP state Chairman, Sir Martin Ejiogu, saluted the new entrants for their wisdom.
In his address he thanked the leaders and members of Imo UPP, “for their wise decision to join Imo PDP en masse.”
Going down memory lane, he revealed that many of them were original members of the PDP before trying their political fortunes in other parties. For the Imo PDP, therefore, theirs was a return to their original political home.
Sir Ejiogu assured them “that they will enjoy fairness, equity and justice in PDP.” He also urged them to brace up to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the party by abiding with the ideology and principles of the PDP, which is anchored on egalitarianism, rule of law and due process.
A similar reception ceremony will be held at the 27 local governments and 305 wards in the State very soon.
In his address, Hon. Chief Ejike Uche, who was the Deputy National Chairman of UPP and leader of the party in Imo State, explained that their party happened to be among the political parties delisted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently. “After serious deliberations and critical analyses of the political climate and environment, as well as the realities in the Nigerian polity at the moment, we concluded that the PDP is the only stable party in Nigeria, with a lot of prospects and goodwill for the genuine restoration of unity, peace and love in the country. Our decision to join the PDP was unanimously reached after due process, in accordance with laid down procedures.
Our membership is quite large in the State, but because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, we came in few numbers.”
He promised to ensure that he and their members would contributed to the further development of PDP, and engineer the party’s victory in future elections in the various wards where they have strength with their individual and collective political structures.
In his remark before introducing 28 Imo UPP State Working Committee (SWC) members, and their 27 LGA Chairmen/Chairperson that were on the delegation, the UPP State Chairman, Engr. Benjamin Ehirim, corroborated Chief Uche’s submission, adding that PDP is the choice party as the truly democratic party in Nigeria. He said: Though PDP is a very big and strong party, the joining of Imo UPP will make PDP bigger and stronger than ever.”
