The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo state has writes to the party National Chaiman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, said the National secretary is creating problems in the state chapter.
Part of the letter signed by Engr. Charles C. Ugwuh, OON the state chairman of the party read:
As loyal Party members, we accept your decisions and will always abide by your directives, knowing well the enormous challenges and stresses of managing a large complex Political Party such as the PDP.
2. Yet it is important to request your attention to the negative
impact of the recent rejection of the State Party’s nominee
to the Zoning Committee recently constituted.
It is really embarrassing to see from the published final list of Committee members that you allowed the substitution of our nominee in the person of H. E. Chief Achike Udenwa who was carefully chosen and endorsed by more than 90%
of the Leaders, our SWC and Elders from Imo State PDP – for the National assignment.
3. He felt badly scandalized and injured as no explanations were offered to him or to us (The State Party).
4. His selection indeed followed your clear directive that State Parties be allowed to handle the nomination process without the intervention of members of NWC). Our State has a well-established process, through wide consultation for such appointments or decisions, hence reached out to a wide circle of Leaders – to seek their views to ensure acceptability and suitability of the nominee for such a high level National duty.
Indeed right at the venue of the NEC meeting I reached out and sought the views/opinions of
our Leaders/Imo representatives in the NEC in view of the urgency called for by the National Party. In the process, I spoke to the National
Secretary and to all our members in the NEC right there in Abuja.
5. Thereafter, I took the matter home to Owerri very urgently
the next day; – which allowed me to consult with otherLeaders from our three Senatorial Zones. After this wide consultation, I summoned the meeting of our SW and reported fully on my consultations, with detailed spread of opinions/suggestion. In fact at this point, four names had been mentioned. The SWC deliberated carefully over the matter and recommended H. E. Chief Udenwa as the most suitable and viable choice for the assignment. Indeed the only recommendation of Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu came from our National Secretary – which was discussed and rejected on the grounds that Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu had not been participating in PP affairs/activities in the State and his LGA. Immediately the SWC came to a decision, I sent a formal notification of the decision to the Party Leaders, and Elders
including the National Secretary and H. E. Emeka lhedioha
the State Party Leader. Also the formal notifications to the
National Chairman and to H. E. Chief Udenwa were copied
immediately to the National Secretary and other Party
Leaders.
8. Subsequently, I received a call from the National Secretary –
threatening my person – with vituperations, cursing, swearing
with unprintable invectives, after which he terminated the
call abruptly and rejected several calls I made to him to
explain the factual situation and the absolute lack of bias in
arriving at our decision and the methodical process that
was followed.
9. Although I forgive his behavior, yet the
continued
interference/meddling in these crude ways, does not augur
well for peace/cohesion and cordial relations as he continues to seek to balkanize the State Party.
10. My Chairman, I regret to have to convey to you the strong disappointment expressed by the State Party over this matter, particularly for the disrespect implied in the substitution of H. E.Chief Udenwa. Indeed the rejection and substitution of our nomination in the circumstances is not acceptable to our Leaders and to the State Party.
11. May I plead with you to please protect us from the overbearing activities and interference by the National Secretary.
12. May I also inform you that the Court litigations in Owerri High Court aimed at dissolving the State Executive Structures is still being pursued and stoked in the belief that a Court 12. May I also inform you that the Court litigations in Owerri High
Court aimed at dissolving the State Executive Structures is still being pursued and stoked in the belief that a Court the could be procured to allow him to form a care-taker which he can control. The “trouble-making” and “provocations” are in search of a suitable excuse to foist a caretaker arrangement on Imo PDP.
All these efforts are tending to destabilize the State Party through creating factions which are clearly unjustified and unnecessary in a Party striving against all odds to deliver election victories by dint of hard work and sacrifices by committed Party members.
Kindly consider our appeals on this matter.
A copy of the letter