BY: JAN UKONU
The ward and local government congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Imo State, held on 14th and 21st March, 2020, has ended with the party sticking to its age long practice of list writing and imposition of party officers to run the affairs of the party.
This newspaper observed that in most wards and local governments, there were no congresses and in areas the exercise took place, harmonization of party executives took precedence.
Some members of the party expressed total disappointment with the processes, alleging that the exercise was a mere formality as it seems there was an instruction from above that only those loyal to a particular politician in the party are returned as party officials at all levels.
“ We were not allowed to elect our choice candidates for various party offices. The whole stuff was like there was an instruction on those who should be returned as party executive members both at the wards and at the LGAs” said Mr. Chinedu Ahamefula, a PDP chieftain in Owerri North.
It was gathered that loyalists of former Governor of the State, Emeka Ihedioha, made up the entire party structure across the state in what signals speculations that the ex Governor may have his sights on the governorship election in 2024 .
A source said the same scenario will play out in the state congress as what will take placewill be a mere formality
“There will be no contest. There is no competition in the first place. The Congresses are mere formality” the source said
The PDP in Imo State slumped from ruling to opposition party in Imo State after eight months it held on the levers of power in the State.
The Supreme Court sacked it’s governorship candidate and Governor of the State, Emeka Ihedioha and replaced him with Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress, APC.