The last might not have been heard of the internal party wranglings and crisis which marred the ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, that held in parts of the State weekend.
The congresses which were stalemated in most local governments of the state according to a source in the party was as a result of imposition of candidates by the leaders of the party.
It was learnt that while the congresses were relatively peaceful in Okigwe and Owerri zones, the exercise was trailed with gun shots, fights, and disappearance of result sheets in Orlu zone.
Out of the 12 local Government Areas that make up Orlu zone, elections only held in Oru East, Oru West, and Orlu local Governments Areas. While result sheets were torn in Oguta local Government Area.
A meeting summoned in Owerri, the Imo State capital by the Chairman of the congress committee, Sergeant Awuse ended in fiasco, as leaders of the party threw jabs and tantrums at each other, and resulted in arbitrary end of the meeting.
The congress was also said to have been greeted with allegations of imposition of candidates in Owerri North local government, just as the aggrieved members have petitioned the congress committee demanding for the total cancellation of the exercise.
Former Governor of the State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim had summoned an emergency meeting of the leaders of the party from his Okigwe zone on Tuesday, where he passionately appealed to them to shealth their swords, forgive one another and work for the progress of the party especially as Okigwe zone senatorial rerun election is at the corner.
Okeomanews gathered that the former Governor left straight for the airport where he boarded a flight to Abuja and is expected to join other party stalwarts like immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha; Senators Hope Uzodinma; Samuel Anyanwu; and Athan Achonu; National woman leader of the party, Dr Kema Chikwe; former Governor Achike Udenwa; and the eight House of Representatives’ members of PDP extraction who are from the State in resolving the impasse . but the media aide to senator Anyanwu, Mr Kelechi Eke said that his boss had no reason to meet with anybody in Abuja over the congresses impasse as the election in his Owerri zone was hugely successful, adding that the senator is currently out of the country.
Speaking with newsmen in Owerri, a state Chairmanship aspirant of the party, Chief Sam Osuji said that the congresses were not outside the regulations of the party as the whole developments show that PDP is a formidable party in the state and is ready to reclaim power come 2019.
He said while he won’t rule out cases of fights and violence, but they were no records of injuries or anyone hospitalised as a result of the congress, assuring that all grey areas will be resolved as soon as possible.
