Kema Chikwe Distances Self From Husband’s Alleged Defection To LP; Says She Remains Solidly PDP

By Charles Igbo

Former Aviation Minister, Dr Kema Chikwe, has distanced self from her husband’s reception of Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi at their country home.

On Monday, the story had made the rounds that her husband, Nze Herbert Chikwe, and their son, Andy Chikwe, have both dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Labour Party, LP. Among those who received them, it was alleged, were Onyewuchi and the Chairman of Imo State Chapter of the LP.

The Chikwes have always been a PDP family. Dr Chikwe, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, is a founding member of the PDP. Under the Party, she had also been Chairman of the National Universities Commission, NUC, and the National Women Leader. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Trustees.

The Imo State Chapter of the PDP was shaken over the news that her husband and son have decamped to the LP, and dumped the PDP. Not a few people thought it was a prelude to her imminent move to the LP, especially, coming on the heels of her criticism at the PDP National Headquarters, Abuja, of the leadership of the Imo State Chapter of the  Party, and former Governor Emeka Ihedioha. She had, allegedly, asked, among other things, for the dissolution of the State Working Committee.

Based on that, Dr Chikwe and a couple of other high profile stakeholders of the Party in the State, on same page with her,  had come under heavy media attack by, mostly, supporters of Ihedioha who is eyeing the Governorship seat of the State after the Supreme Court aborted his tenure in office.

But Dr Chikwe has dismissed the speculations that her husband and son are the Biblical John the Baptist, preparing her entry to the LP as rubbish. In a statement which she personally signed, she said nothing could be further from the truth. She said she remains a staunch PDP member, and that her husband’s and son’s reception of Senator Onyewuchi, does not, in anyway, change the status quo.

She said that her husband, not being a mainstream politician, is entitled to his relationship with Politicians across other Political parties, and that it, in no way, affects her being a staunch member of the PDP or their relationship as a family. The Chikwe family, she assured, remains PDP.

Dr Chikwe: “My attention has been drawn to the news being circulated that my husband has joined the Labour Party.

“May be it was his way of welcoming  Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Senatorial candidate for Labour Party. This does not, in anyway, shake my firm belief and membership of the People’s Democratic Party of which I am a founding member.

“My husband is entitled to his choice. This does not in anyway affect our normal lives as a family. I know he has good friends in other political parties.

“He is known for his hospitality and receiving a Labour Party candidate in his home is more of his expression of support for Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi.

“He responds favorably to his friends, regardless of  political party affiliations because he is not a mainstream politician.

“My family has been PDP, and remains so, in spite of the hype.

“I am a mainstream politician, and I am committed to the People’s Democratic Party. I have no plan to change my Party.”

Her traducers in the Imo PDP, have, however, dismissed her statement as an after thought.

Onyewuchi, the Senator, representing Imo East, dumped PDP after he was defeated at the Party’s Primary by Barrister Uche Onyeagucha, the Secretary to the Government under Ihedioha.

Dr Chikwe backed Onyewuchi at the Primary.