Former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, withdrew from the 2023 gubernatorial race under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he became the target of unjust treatment in the party, it has been revealed.
A group within the main opposition party, the PDP Action 2023, which disclosed on Wednesday in a statement by its Chairman, Hon. Rufus Omeire, blamed the national leadership of the party for the disrespectful way the former Speaker of the House of Representatives had been treated, causing him to abandon the party primaries abruptly.
Recall that Ihedioha wrote to the National Chairman of the PDP this week, apprising him of his decision to withdraw from the party’s governorship primaries despite picking its nomination form.
The group blamed his untoward experience on Dr. Iyrochia Ayu, who has been forced to step aside as the National Chairman of the PDP.
It noted with sadness that Ayu ignored all pleas for a fair primary process, hence the former governor felt there was no need to dignify it with his participation.
According to the group, Ihedioha’s sudden withdrawal from the primaries has left Imo PDP and the people of Imo State in shock and despondency.
However, the PDP Action 2023 contended all hope may not be lost if the PDP reopens the process for other credible candidates to join the race in Imo State.
It said if this is not done, the national leadership would have succeeded in killing Imo PDP.
The PDP Action 2023 questioned the role of the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who was screened as an aspirant but turned out to be the signatory to the clearance certificates issued to successful aspirants, including himself.
According to the group, Anyanwu as a gubernatorial aspirant, has a moral and legal duty to resign his office as National Secretary to avoid a severe conflict of interest.
It maintained that his resignation was the only way to ensure a level playing field for all contestants.
The PDP Action 2023, in its statement, said: “In the first place, Rt. Hon. Ihedioha, a dedicated PDP member since 1999, was unfairly and unjustly treated by the party’s leadership.
“The National Secretary of the Party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, had indicated an interest in vying for the governorship primaries as he is entitled to, as an indigene of Imo State. However, as a sitting National Secretary, it is only proper that he should not supervise the primaries for which he is a contestant.
“It is shocking that as the National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu was himself ‘screened’ as an aspirant and later on signed the clearance certificate of the ‘successful”l’ aspirants, including himself.
“Ihedioha, we understand, complained to political leaders about this grave violation of this elementary principle of natural justice that a man should not be a judge in his cause, to no avail.
“Indeed, allowing Sen. Anyanwu to supervise his election primaries cannot stand legal or moral scrutiny by any fair-minded person.”
Citing the provisions of the PDP Constitution Section 47(5) dealing with resignation for elective office, the group noted: “The party under the watch of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu refused to do so to confer an undue advantage to any National Officer of the party, to sit tight in office and preside over primaries for which they maybe candidates.
“Indeed, any guideline issued by the party that omits this clause is patently unlawful and unconstitutional.
“Senator Anyanwu has a moral and legal duty to resign his office as National Secretary to avoid a severe conflict of interest. This is the only way to assure a level playing field for all contestants.
“The duties of the National Secretary are provided in S.36 of the PDP Constitution. A careful perusal shows that he has not just a supervisory role over the affairs of the party but is, infact, in charge of the implementation of most of its activities.
“He is, therefore a critical player in the preparations towards the selection of delegates and other processes for the Imo State Gubernatorial primaries which he is contesting.
“Indeed, he has chosen the panel to conduct the Imo PDP Primaries 3-man delegates election. He would also likely appoint the panel that will conduct the primaries proper.
“It, therefore, behoves on the party in the interest of justice, equity, and fairness, which are the hallmarks of the PDP in its Constitution, to request the National Secretary to step aside by resigning his office at this time.
“We know that Ihedioha is not desperate to serve, but Imo people deserve all her best hands to be involved in the process.
“The National Chairman turned a blind ear to all protestations for a fair process and Ihedioha decided not to dignify the skewed process with his participation.
“The shocking announcement by Ihedioha has left Imo PDP and the people of Imo State despondent and helpless.
“The only fair thing for PDP to do at this stage is to open the process for another credible candidate to join the race in Imo State, if this is not done, Ayu would have succeeded in killing Imo PDP the way he has put PDP National on life support.”
