EXCLUSIVE: Imo PDP Crisis Worsen As Ihedioha, Ohakim, Udenwa, Chikwe, Others Shun South-East Zonal Congress

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Sunday, May 15th, 2016

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Owerri

The peace recently brokered in the crisis-ridden Imo state chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP, by its Peace and Reconciliation Committee, led by Bayelsa State Governor,Seriake Dickson,has completely collapsed leading to its renewed factionalization.

AFRICAN EXAMINER recalled that the reconciliatory committee held a crucial meeting on wednesday, March 8, 2016 with the party’s leadership cutting across the feuding factions in the State at the Bayelsa Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja.

In a communique signed after several hours of deliberations, the warring factions, had resolved to unite and join forces to strengthen the party and ensure its victory in all elections in 2019.

However, our Correspondent gathered that the renewed crisis in the state,followed the alleged hijacking of the just concluded congresses held in the state by Senator Hope Uzodinmma.

The aggrieved PDP members, loyal to the Ihedioha, group have rejected the results of the ward and council congress across the 27 council areas of the state, alleging that it was manipulated by senator Uzodinma.

AFRICAN EXAMINER learnt that the Senator and Ihedioha are flexing muscles over who controls the political structure of the state, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

While a member of the PDP board of trustee,and leader of the party’s caucus in the south east, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is in the camp of Uzodinma, the likes of two ex-governors of the state, Chief Achike Udenwa, Ikedi Ohakim, and former Minister of Aviation Chief Kema Chikwe, are in Ihedioha’s faction.

A source close to the Uzodinma faction, told our Correspondent under condition of anonymity, that “we will never allowed Ihedioha, to take over the PDP structure in the state, because he is a greedy man.”

“I want to tell you that PDP is alive today in Imo state because of the disposition of Distinguish Senator Hope Uzodinma, who has been oiling the party structure in the state at all times”

Meanwhile, Udenwa, Ohakim, Chikwe,and other chieftains of the party in Ihedioha’s faction, on saturday shunned the south- East zonal PDP congress, held at the Michael Okpara square, Enugu.

The exercise was attended by Senator Uzodinma,and his factional delegates, who cast their votes on behalf of the state.

As the year rolls by, only time will tell who among the two Imo state born political heavyweights, wins and controls the political soul of the PDP in the state, currently being governed by the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.