Fresh details have emerged on the circumstances surrounding the deepening crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Okigwe Zone, with documentary evidence indicating that the party’s controversial attempt to reclaim its former zonal office was built on a flawed assumption that the property belonged to the party. Investigations by INNONEWS reveal that the office apartment in Anara, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, was rented exclusively in the name of former PDP State Vice Chairman for Okigwe Zone, Chief Chuks Ajaelu, who personally financed its rent, branding and maintenance before his resignation from the party.
The development has further exposed what many party insiders describe as the organizational collapse of the PDP in Okigwe Zone following the exit of the Ajaelu family, long regarded as one of the party’s strongest pillars in the area. Political observers note that the first office operated by the PDP in Imo State after the return of democracy in 1998 was provided by the Ajaelus, underscoring the family’s historic role in sustaining the party’s structures over the years.
Documents obtained by this newspaper show that shortly after his resignation, Chief Chuks Ajaelu formally handed over party files, correspondence, administrative records and other official documents to the PDP Zonal Secretary, Hon. David Nwosu. In the handover note dated May 29, 2026, Ajaelu also notified the party that expenses incurred in running the office throughout his tenure had not been reimbursed. He specifically warned that no individual or officer should take possession of the premises until the sum of N3.5 million, which he described as outstanding expenses advanced on behalf of the office, was fully refunded to him.
Further evidence emerged in a separate letter dated June 4, 2026, addressed to the Acting PDP Zonal Chairman for Okigwe Zone. In the correspondence titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Permission to Use My Personal Office Premises as PDP Okigwe Zonal Office,” Ajaelu stated unequivocally that the apartment being used as the PDP zonal office was rented by him personally and exclusively in his name. He maintained that the tenancy agreement existed between him and the landlord, while all rents, branding costs, maintenance expenses and operational expenditures were borne entirely from his personal resources. He subsequently withdrew permission for the party to continue occupying the facility and directed that all party activities be relocated immediately.
The letters have become central to understanding the controversy that erupted after some members of the PDP leadership reportedly resolved to take possession of the office following Ajaelu’s departure from the party. According to sources familiar with discussions held during a meeting attended by senior party officials, including State Chairman Austin Nwachukwu and other leaders from Okigwe Zone, concerns were raised about the legality of entering the premises. Multiple sources said a legal practitioner present at the meeting cautioned that any attempt to forcefully assume control of the office could expose the party to legal complications since the property was neither owned nor leased by the PDP.
Despite those concerns, party officials reportedly proceeded to the location last Wednesday, expecting to regain control of what they believed was the PDP’s zonal secretariat. However, in what many party members now describe as a humiliating episode, the premises had already been occupied by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), a political support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) mobilizing for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid. Witnesses said the presence of security operatives at the facility effectively ended the mission before it could begin, forcing those involved to retreat from the premises.
The incident has triggered fresh criticism of the PDP leadership in Imo State. Loyalists of Ajaelu who spoke on the matter expressed disbelief that senior party officials could seek to take possession of a property that documentary evidence showed was privately rented and funded. They argued that the episode reflects a deeper leadership crisis within the party, which has continued to suffer defections and dwindling influence across the state. For many political observers, the controversy surrounding the Anara office is more than a dispute over rent and occupancy; it has become a symbol of the PDP’s declining fortunes in Okigwe Zone and a stark reminder of the vacuum created by the departure of the Ajaelus from the party.
