2015 Election: How PDP Leaders In Owerri Municipal 'Pocketed' Jonathan's Millions Of Naria

The embezzlement of campaign funds for the 2015 presidential and governorship election in Owerri municipal, Imo State capital led to the colossal failure of the party in the area.

Also, injustice, corruption and nepotism by PDP leaders in the area has been fingered as some of the recurring factors that has made the party to consistently lose the Imo State capital to the opposition party

This revelation was disclosed  by aggrieved members of the party at a get together ceremony organized  by them  in Owerri Municipal .They are also displeased with the manner some party leaders indiscriminately embezzled party funds for 2015 election in the area including monies earmarked for the area for the re- election of then President Goodluck Jonathan.

The party members led by Hon. Ebere Chukwuemeka had in September, 2015 accused some leaders of the PDP of corruption and diversion of party funds, alleging  that the sum of N30, 000 which was approved for each booth in several wards  in Owerri municipal and another million of naria set aside released by Jonathan for election logistics was stolen by some party leaders in collaboration with the party chairman, Deacon Paul Ajunwa.

At a stakeholders meeting held in Owerri Tuesday, Ebere recalled that the party has been subdued by these same set of leaders since 2007.

“These leaders are selfish. They converted monies for party members during the election  for their personal use, converting such huge sums of money  to indomie, morning fresh and salt. This is unacceptable.

“Some leaders pocketed the campaign funds of the party. This was why we lost the election. Since 2003, PDP has never won elections in Owerri municipal because of the presence of these selfish and self-centered leaders who sabotage the party by pocketing millions of naira for party members during elections.

“They sit in their homes and write the names of delegates. They handpick their brothers and sisters who are not PDP members and appoint them as party executives.This has been our ordeal in the PDP in Owerri municipal, which is the seat of government

He described the Municipal PDP chairman, Deacon Paul Ajunwa as the stooge of the some of the selfish party leaders, stating that he was never elected as party chairman through any congress.

“He was never elected as Chairman through Congress. He was simply handpicked by these greedy leaders. He must step aside because he and his cohorts have consistently ripped the party in Owerri municipal apart.
“We want no reconciliation. We want the party chairman to subject himself to the forthcoming congress. This is a new PDP and such leaders who embezzle party funds should have no place in PDP anymore.

" We are waiting for them at the congress. Let them subject themselves to the congress. If PDP wants to move forward, the will of party members must prevail.

In his remarks, a former Chairman of PDP in Owerri Municipal, Joe Nwachukwu said the party failed in the last polls because of the depth of corruption of the party leaders.

“Our party leaders are simply corrupt. They are selfish and only care for themselves.  Imagine a situation where they connived with the so- called House of Assembly candidate in Owerri municipal who was not duly elected at the primaries to steal N14 million naira of our party funds.  

“ We want change in PDP. Change from the old ways and we must get that change in the coming congress.