Imo: Who’s PDP Chairman?

Barely 24 hours after the state’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman Charles Ugwu was suspended by a group in the party, another group within the party has maintained that he remained the chairman.

On Tuesday, the state PDP Secretary, Njaka Duruiheoma announced the suspension of Ugwu, a former Minister of Commerce and Industry from his position.

According to a statement signed by the PDP scribe, the minister was suspended for alleged misconduct.

The statement further stated that the Zonal Chairman of the party for the Okigwe zone, Chidi Dike, has been appointed in his place as the Acting state Chairman.

However in another group in the party led by its Legal Adviser, Kissinger Ikoku said Ugwu remains the chairman of the PDP in the state, he urged the public to ignore his purported removal, saying the embattled chairman still enjoys the support of majority of members in the State Working Committee, SWC), and State Executive Committee, SEC.

According to a statement made available to the media on Wednesday, the Legal Adviser said some elements in the party were out to destroy it, he appealed to members of the party in the state to remain steadfast.

Ikoku described the “resolution” passed by some members of the PDP executive in the state removing the chairman as a nullity.

He cited ‘article 47 (3) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as amended, to support his position.

The Legal Adviser condemned what he described as “an unlawful attempt to undermine the democratic processes within the PDP structure,” in the state.