…appoints Chidi Dike as interim chairman
From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The crisis in the Imo state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party is yet to abate as the state Chairman of the Party, Engr Charles Ugwu has been suspended for alleged gross misconduct and insubordination.
This is just as the party Hon Chidi Dike, the Okigwe zonal Chairman of the party, Chidi Dike has been appointed as an interim chairman.
The suspension of Engr Ugwu , a former Minister of Industries as the chairman of the party was made public on Tuesday, which followed a motion moved by the PDP Chairman of Ohaji Egbema local government area and Chairman of all PDP Chairmen in the state, Hon Emeka Alihe, seconded by the PDP Chairman of Owerri Municipal, Hon Godspower Apollos and adopted by no fewer than 18 other Local Government Chairmen as well as members of the State Executive Committee (SEC), on the 24th of October, 2023.
Also in a letter tagged, “Majority Resolution of Members of the State Executive Committee of Peoples Democratic Party, Imo state Chapter at Its Meeting Held on 24/10/2023, Passing Vote of No Confidence/Suspending Engr Charles Ugwu from Office Immediately as the Chairman, Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party” signed by the state Secretary of the party, Hon Njaba Duruiheoma, Emeka Alihe, a Chieftain of the party called for the immediate suspension of Engr. Charles Ugwu from office.
He said the party chairman failed to summon meeting of the State Working Committee contrary to the provisions of S. 21 (3) of the Party Constitution.
Engr. Charles Ugwu, according to him, had no justifiable reason for failing to attend any of the thank you tours embarked upon by the Governorship candidate of the
party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to the 27 L.G.A of Imo State including that of Owerri Municipal Council that was done at the State Secretariat of this party contrary to S. 58(i) (e) of the Party Constitution not withstanding that he was duly notified of the tour.
A party chieftain who spoke to our correspondent said, “his suspension would have come as at October 24th but was kept till after election to avoid people reading negative meaning into it.”
However, effort to reach the state Chairman for reaction was abortive as he did not pick calls put him on his cell phone as at press time.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the party who does not want to be quoted said that the purported suspension of the state Chairman who was elected through a state congress by some persons is a ruse . He also pointed out that the same persons who who to destroy the party are the same persons who are causing the confusion in the party .
” Those who are claiming to have suspended the state Chairman who emerged through a state congress are just wasting their time . We will not allow them to kill this party. After the abysmal performance of the party in the November 11 Imo state governorship polls which they are also responsible because of their greed for power . The members of the party should have sat down to rebuild the party but they are bent of destroying the party but we will not allow them.” He said .