By Charles Igbo

The State Chairman,  Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr Charles Ugwu has dismissed the resignation of seven members of the State Executive Committee of the Party as nothing.

The seven members, including the Deputy Chairman, State Secretary, Women Leader, Treasurer, Publicity Secretary,  Youth Leader, at a Press Conference on Sunday, not only resigned from their offices, and made damning  allegations, especially, against the Governorship Candidate of the Party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in the upcoming November 11, 2023, Governorship election, but they, also, dumped the Party.

On Monday, June 19, they paid a surprising courtesy call on the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and declared the Governor the best Governor since late Chief Sam Mbakwe.

They pledged loyalty to the Governor, and said they joined the APC because of the good works he is doing in the State.

Then, they declared the PDP dead in the State. They told the Governor that by their dumping the PDP, only the carcass remains of the once flourishing Party.

But Ugwu, in his first official reaction since the tsunami hit his PDP, said “not true”. He said the PDP in the State remains strong and is looking forward to forming the next Government in the State.

In the personally signed statement dated 20th June, 2023, Ugwu said the Party was founded on a strong foundation so much so that the departure of the seven SWC members has no negative effect on the Party.

Following is the  full text of the Press Statement titled: Imo State PDP Remains Strong And Resolute

“It is no longer news that seven (7) members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have resigned their Positions, and consequently  joined the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

“While this may seem grievous on the face value, it is important to educate the general public and our teeming supporters that the structure, manifesto and construction of PDP is inherently robust and residential 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 Anyanwu.

“We enjoin all our members and teeming supporters to remain  faithful and confident in the subsisting process in this current situation.

“The Party remains strong and determined to pursue its overall objectives and clear focus to win the November 11th Governorship Elections.”

However, not a few people think that it will be an uphill task for the PDP, as it in the State to make any impact in the November 11, 2023, Governorship Election. For now, everybody is waiting for the reaction of former Governor of the State, the Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha who PDP loyalists in the State regard as the Leader of the Party, to the exit of the SWC members

Notedly, the members of the SWC who dumped the Party are mainly Ihedioha loyalists.

Imo State Government, Tuesday, declared that it has information on a secret agreement between the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and  former Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, to return all seized and looted assets to Okorocha, and stop further implementation of the White paper, should PDP win the governorship election.

In return, Okorocha will bankroll the election of Anyanwu, who is said to be desperately in need of cash to fund his election, the government added.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, he listed some of the seized looted assets to include the KO Mbadiwe University, Ogboko and the Palm Garden Estate in Owerri.

“Government has intelligence that the two desperate politicians have entered into an unholy alliance to short-change Imo people in the unlikely event that PDP wins the upcoming election,” Emelumba said.

He said part of the agreement is that Senator Anyanwu ( Samdaddy) will reverse and stop the implementation of the White paper which indicted the former governor of siphoning billions of naira through phoney contracts, including returning the KO Mbadiwe University to him.

Emelumba disclosed that in exchange, Okorocha will fund the election of Anyanwu, including handing over his political structure to the PDP candidate.

” It is not as if Senator Samuel Anyanwu can ever win the election but it is necessary to inform Imo people for them to take note of their enemies who wish to ruin the State for them by returning them to Egypt,” Emelumba submitted.

He added: “Of course it is clear that what this means is to encourage further looting of the commonwealth of Imo people in the unlikely event of a Sen. Samuel Anyanwu Government.”

Emelumba decried what he described as the desperation of Senator Samuel Anyanwu “even when the PDP house is collapsing on him with the exodus of thousands of people from the Party.”

The Commissioner wondered the kind of leader that will support the return of seized looted assets from someone who ruined the economy of the State.

He further disclosed that the birthday Party held by Anyanwu recently and attended by Okorocha was used as a testing ground for the implementation of the agreement.

“They have perfected the agreement before that day, and that was why Okorocha promised to call a meeting for him (Samdaddy), at the event. Imo people should watch out,” he cautioned.

He, however, urged Imo people to reject such characters in the upcoming election and support Governor Uzodimma who has vowed to ensure that all looted Imo property are recovered.