Finally, Imo State PDP holds Congress, Saturday:
Imo State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party will on Saturday, 1st August, 2020, hold its state congress to elect officers to pilot the affairs of the party at state level in the next four years.
This is in line with the party constitution and congress schedules provided by the national PDP.
The Imo State PDP congress will hold at Kanu Nwankwo Sports Complex in Owerri.
The Saturday’s congress, which the party described as a historic event, will conclude the party congresses which started earlier in the year with successful elections of party executive officers in the 305 wards and the 27 local councils in the state
“The state congress would have held before now but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Preparations have accordingly been stepped up towards making the state congress a huge success. This is underpinned by the 174-Member 2020 State Congress Committees inaugurated on Monday, July 27, 2020 by the acting State Chairman of the party, Chief Martin Ejiogu to ensure a seamless congress
“A total of eight committees were constituted to drive a fair and credible congress. They included: Central Planning Committee headed by Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi ; Accreditation/Administration Committee headed by Hon. Bede Eke; Hon Jones Onyereri-headed INEC/Electoral Committee and Publicity Committee with Dr. Amanze Obi as Chairman
“Others are: Medical Committee with Dr. Shah Azu Okorie as Chairman; Hon Tochi Okereke-headed Protocol Committee ; Security Committee headed by Hon. Ikenna Elezianya and Venue and Logistics Committee headed by Hon. Emeka Chinedu.
“The symbolic event holding tomorrow is instructive that the Imo PDP is still cohesive, united and formidable and remains the biggest party in the state contrary to the misconceptions of some of our opponents
“The planned event is demonstrable that the Supreme Court’s controversial ruling of January 14, 2020 that set aside the popular mandate given to Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha thereby fraudulently throwing up Senator Hope Uzodinma as Imo Governor has reinforced and renewed the party rather than weakening it
“The delegates to the state congress were drawn from the 305 wards in the state based on the provisions of the party constitution,” a statement issued by Dr Amanze Obi, Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of 2020 Imo State PDP Congress Committee read.
Meanwhile, a cross section of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Imo State have alleged plot the ousted Governor of the state, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha to impose Charles Ugwu, a former Minister of Commerce and Industry as the chairman of the party at the state congress.
The allegation was fueled Ihedioha returned from Abuja on Thursday after the Supreme Court Judgement that ousted him as the Governor of Imo State preparatory to the Imo State PDP congress.
Media reports had it that Emeka Ihedioha addressed members of Imo State PDP at his Civic Centre residence, Owerri and adopted the octogenarian as the consensus candidate for the chairmanship seat ahead of the Saturday congress.
It was further gathered that Martins Ejiogu who is the state acting chairman of the party will be demoted to his former position as the deputy chairman while Ray Emeana and Law Biaduo will retain their seats as the Secretary and Organizing Secretary of the party respectively.
The development infuriated some members of Imo State PDP, especially supporters of Emeka Nwokeke, another contestant of the chairmanship position, who expressed their displeasure over the alleged imposition, describing it as unhealthy to the growth of the party.
“Charles Ugwu is an old man. He may not be strong enough to withstand the storm. We have young people who are qualified to take up the position, but they won’t allow them. This is a practice in this party I hate so much and I bet, this party will collapse under Charles Ugwu,” a member of PDP who pleaded anonymity, noted.
