Leaders of Okigwe zone under the aegis Okigwe PDP Patriots have rejected in its entirety, moves by some Owerri Zone leaders to cede the chairmanship of Imo PDP to Okigwe zone describing it as a greek gift which has the hidden intention of denying Okigwe the governorship ticket in 2019.
Briefing newsmen in Owerri Monday, the President of the Okigwe PDP Patriots and immediate past auditor, PDP South East zone, Chief Regis Uwakwe said PDP patriots in Okigwe reject the congresses at both wards and local government levels as according to him, the lists of elected PDP officials at the congresses held so far were allegedly tampered with by Senator Athan Achonu.
Chief Uwakwe who gave instances of how Senator Achonu allegedly replaced the name of the elected PDP chairman of Ehime Mbano LGA, Hon. Onuoha Francis with that of McAnthony Iwuoha alleged to be the Senator’s domestic aide. He also alleged that in his own Umualumaku/Umuohim Ward, the Senator also allegedly changed the names of the elected PDP financial secretary, youth leader and ex-officio with his own names.
Consequently, the PDP Chieftain declared that Okigwe PDP Patriots resolved as follows; that Senator Achonu whom he said is the candidate of PDP in the re-scheduled Okigwe Senatorial re-run election should choose between his senatorial ambition and controlling the party structure.
He also said that the PDP in Okigwe Zone was not ready for the election pending on the restoration of what he called the original ward and LGA congresses list for the area.
Chief Uwakwe made it clear that PDP in Imo has not zoned party offices and as such, any zone was free to produce the state chairman including Orlu stressing that alleged attempts by Senator Achonu to exchange the position of deputy national financial secretary zoned to Okigwe with state chairmanship of Imo PDP was completely unacceptable. He said Owerri zone would not be allowed to take what has been given to Okigwe Zone no matter the promises adding that Owerri could go for state chairmanship but should leave the deputy national financial secretary for Okigwe as directed by the leadership of the party.
Speaking further, the Okigwe PDP patriots urged party members to shun any meeting convened in Senator Achonu’s house as according to them, such meetings were against the constitution of the party.
They also stated that the Okigwe PDP Senatorial candidate was no longer a senator pending on his re-election, while revealing that Achonu’s name was allegedly not found in the statutory list of delegates in Abuja.
