Congress:More Trouble In Imo PDP

 .Party Leaders Compile Executive  Lists

.Harmonization  In The Offing 

 As the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Imo State prepare to head to Congress to elect party executives at the ward levels next Saturday; April 24, 2016, party leaders have intensified efforts to take hold of the party structure in the State.

former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Hope Uzodinma are in pole position to take over the party structure as a basis to oil their governorship ambitions in 2019.

The camps of the two leaders are said to be compiling lists containing names of party officers from the ward to the local government levels. 

 This is a total negation of the party principle which insists on free and fair congress.

In addition, the Caretaker Committee said to be loyal to Ihedioha is alleged to be thick in  preparing names for various party positions at the state level. There has been no independent verification of these claims as no member of the State caretaker commitee agreed to speak our reporter on the issue.

This situation has raised fresh tension in the party. But another top source in the party said the present scramble for the soul of the party by contending forces in the PDP may lead to harmonization.

He said “Party leaders may settle for harmonization of executives at the wards and local governments if they end up coming with various lists.

“Harmonization of the party offices will ensure that members and stakeholders in various interest groups in the party are accommodated in various party leadership positions” he said.

Since the state executives of the party was sacked, the PDP in Imo State has been embroiled in factional war orchestrated by several interest groups propelled by politicians in the party who want control of the party structure as a basis to have total control of the executives. 

The congress is the first major step of the opposition party in Imo State to reposition in order to win the 2019 governorship election but present undercurrents in the party tend to disfavor a free and fair ward congress.

Party leaders and stakeholders have insisted on a free congress to give party members the opportunity to elect party officers of their choice.  

They have consistently kicked against imposition of party officers in the past which has been the undoing of the party and responsible for its failure in previous elections.

Imposition of party officers has been severally identified as the major undoing of the party in the State