The executives of Umukegwu/Umuopia Ward and Ideato North Local Government Area (LGA) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State have dismissed reports of the expulsion of Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere from the party.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the ward and LGA leaders described the alleged expulsion as fake news and reaffirmed Ugochinyere’s membership and leadership role in the party.
Reports had earlier emerged that Ugochinyere, who is the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State and spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, had been expelled from the party.
In a letter dated December 5 and signed by Thankgod Okeke as the LGA chairman, and Onyebuchi Umeh as the secretary, Ugochinyere was accused of alleged misconduct and anti-party activities.
The letter partly reads, “The party found Ugochinyere guilty of deliberate failure to attend meetings and participate in activities of the party for a long time in breach of Section 58 (1)e) of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended.
“He was said to have engaged in unauthorised publicity of disputes within the party which contravenes section 58(1)i of the party’s constitution.
“Also, he formed parallel executive and organs of the party in his ward, and at the LGA and National levels which also breaches the party’s constitution.
“Furthermore, he was found guilty of consistently making derogatory and provocative public statements against the party and some of its national leaders, an action that brought the party to public ridicule.”
But reacting in a statement signed by Umukegwu/Umuopia Ward Chairman Hon. Mathias Onuebunwa and Hon. Emeka Eze as Ideato North LGA Chairman, the executives said Ugochinyere remains a respected figure in the PDP.
They accused PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum of orchestrating the expulsion in an attempt to undermine Ugochinyere’s influence within the party.
“Ikenga is a strong member of PDP, and we at the ward and LGA will never have any reason to suspend him, not to talk of expelling him. Rather we owe him a debt of salute and confidence for his courageous battle to rescue the PDP from political traitors who are in bed to sell the PDP to the APC led by Anywau and Damagun under the guidance of their pay Master working as minister for APC.
“Ikenga is above such dreams of political kids whose efforts to please their disgraced paymasters can’t bother Ikenga, who is the state leader of Imo PDP since he is the highest officer elected today under PDP. We have our confidence in our leader,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the 27 PDP LGA chairmen in Imo State also issued a resolution following an emergency meeting where they declared Ugochinyere as the state leader of the party.
The chairmen passed a vote of confidence in the federal lawmaker, citing his position as the highest-ranking elected PDP official in the state.
They reportedly tasked Ugochinyere with leading efforts to restructure and reconcile the party.