Imo State stakeholders of the chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused former Governor Emeka Ihedioha of turning the Atiku presidential Campaign Council into his personal structure in the state.
They have, therefore, rejected to associate with the Atiku Campaign Council.
The disaffected party chieftains said, “the constitution of the party stipulates that for the Campaign Council to be constituted, the stakeholders of the party must widely be consulted and that the State Executive Committee, comprising of various important dignitaries of the party must vet and ratify the Campaign Council”.
On this premise, the Former House of Assembly Member for Okigwe Local Government Hon. Ngozi Ogbu, spoke to newsmen in Owerri on behalf of the Stakeholders and elders.
Ogbu said, “We wish to use this medium to inform the Party that the Stakeholders of the Party in Imo State were summoned to a Stakeholders meeting to discuss the composition of the Presidential Campaign Council and Campaign Management Council but to our surprise and chagrin, the Secretary of the Party, Nze Ray Emeana proceeded to read out a list of Members of the Presidential Campaign Council and Management Committee Council.
“This led to serious disagreement as majority of the Stakeholders opposed the announcement of the list of members of the Presidential campaign council as an imposition as they were never consulted, and as an extension of Emeka Ihedioha Campaign council.
“We must recognize that His Excellency Ihedioha is an aspirant for the position of Governorship of Imo State. There are so many other aspirants for that position. Therefore, it is untidy to use him to be imposed on the Stakeholders as Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council.
“We, therefore, call on the State Working Committee, the Presidential Campaign Council, and His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, to arrest the situation urgently, to avoid defeat of PDP in Imo State.”
Further, at the state Secretariat of the PDP, a chieftain of the party, Evangelist Mike Ikeoku, and member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council at the National level said, “PDP as a party belongs to the people and not Emeka Ihedioha and Sons Limited.”
Ikeoku added that the only problem the party has is an ambition of one man trying to convert the party into his private and personal property.
“We want the Party to caution Emeka Ihedioha and the State Working Committee in order for our party to win elections in Imo State”.