By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
Former governor of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, citing intra party crisis as reason for his action.
Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, made his withdrawal from the opposition party known in a letter he sent to the ward chairman of Mbutu Ward in Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo State.
In the resignation letter dated 23rd April, 2024, addressed to his Mbutu Mbaise Ward Chairman and copied to the Imo State Chairman and National Chairman and Chairman Board of Trustees, BoT, of the PDP respectively, Ihedioha remarked that the party had in recent times taken on a path that is at variance with his personal beliefs, hence the need to dump the party now.
He expressed regret that irrespective of his attempts to offer counsel the PDP has refused to carry out internal reforms and provide credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ihedioha who was also one-time Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, stated that as a founding member of PDP in 1998, he had strived and contributed his quota to the development and transformation of the party.
His words, “Since 1998, I have contributed my quota to the development and transformation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as one of the founding members. All these years, I have taken pride in the fact that PDP is a party that will always look inwards for internal reforms and provide credible leadership for the people, whether in power or outside of power. I have had the benefit of serving and benefitting from the party at various levels.”
“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. Despite my attempts to offer counsel, the party has refused to carry out internal reforms and provide credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, effective immediately. While this decision was difficult to take, I however, believe it is the right one.”
In a similar vein, former secretary to Imo State Government, Barr Chris Okewulonu, state Legal adviser of PDP, Kissinger Ikeokwu Esq, state publicity secretary of PDP, Mazi Emenike Nmeregini and former Director-General, Imo State Orientation Agency, ISOA, Chief Martin Opara have in their separate letters to their respective ward chairmen announced resignation from the PDP.
Others who followed the bandwagon include; immediately past PDP House of Representatives candidate for Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala federal constituency, Engr. Albert Chibuzor Agulanna, Hon. Kingsley Obinna Onwubuariri, former state legislator, Dr Marcel Nwankwo, Hon. Mrs Amarachi Owuamanam, Chief David Abanihi, Prof. Obinna Iheduru, Hon. Gregory Chukwuemeka Nwokeke, Chief Stanley Ekezie and Hon. Hon. Samuel Chibueze Iheaturueme among others.
