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Backs NWC’s intervention
By Chinelo Obogo
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Emeka Kalu, has described the alleged expulsion of a member of the House of Representatives for Ideato North/Ideato South in Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, as a farce which he said should not be taken seriously.
In a statement, Kalu, who is the leader of the ‘PDP Coalition in Nigeria, described as unfortunate what he said is an attempt by some within the party in Imo State to bring it to disrepute despite attempts to rebuild it. He said Ugochinyere’s dismissal is fraudulent and should not be allowed to stand.
On Friday, the PDP in Imo State had, in a letter signed by its Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiak, announced the expulsion Ugochinyere from the party by the Umuopia/Umukegwu ward chapter over alleged gross indiscipline, insubordination, and anti-party activities.
However, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed the purported expulsion, saying it is not in line with the provisions of Sections 57 (7) and 59 (3) of the party’s Constitution (as amended in 2017) and laid-down rules.
Kalu also threw his weight behind the NWC’s statement, insisting that Ugochinyere had remained the most committed federal legislator elected on the platform of the PDP in fighting the gross injustice, sabotage and political prebendalism hampering the unity of the party and should be commended for standing by the party at all times.
“At a time the party is gradually working towards rebuilding her broken walls, some persons who failed to see the realities of power tussles in political leadership took to fraudulently abuse processes by raising their ill-fated pen to publish Ugochinyere’s expulsion from the party he has continued to give his best for.
“A party that has been captured by the enemies within with all readiness to destroy it should concentrate on fighting to retrieve its glory from the hands of traducers than resorting to fight a man who has never relented in working to ensure the party is robustly strengthened.
“It is a show of shame that while the party at the national level is battling conflict of interest and sabotage within the party structure and those who are bent on ensuring these wrongs are corrected became the victims of circumstance orchestrated by his haters who think their interests are no longer protected,” he said.