5 hours Ago By Gibson Achonu
The purported expulsion of Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere by the Peoples Democratic Party has been dismissed by the executives of the party at Umukegwu/Umuopia ward and Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State. In a statement issued on Monday, the local council 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 a member of the House of Representatives, 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 the letter signed by Thankgod Okeke, the council chairman, and Onyebuchi Umeh, 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 PDF constitution 2017, as amended. “He was said to have engaged in unauthorized 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 local government and national levels, which also breaches the party’s constitution. Related News PDP NWC rejects Ugochinyere's expulsion by Imo chapter PDP expels Ugochinyere over gross indiscipline PDP planning merger to dislodge APC in 2027, says Imo Rep “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, Chief Mathias Onuebunwa and Chief Emeka Eze, as Ideato North LGA PDP chairman, the executives said Ugochinyere remains a respected figure in the PDP.
They accused the PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, of orchestrating the expulsion in an attempt to undermine Ugochinyere’s influence within the party. The letter reads, “Ikenga is a strong member of the PDP, and we at the ward and local government levels 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 All Progressives Congress, led by Anyanwu and Damagun, under the guidance of their paymaster, working as minister for the 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 averred that the 27 PDP local council 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..
