Former Imo Speaker, Deputy Governor Resign From PDP

Gerald Irona 

Former Imo deputy governor Gerald Irona has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former deputy governor wrote to the PDP ward chairman in Oguta, Oguta LGA, the state, to inform them of his resignation.

Irona cited his “dissatisfaction with the current situation of things” in the PDP as the reason behind his decision to leave the party.

“I regret that the party has deviated significantly from the noble principles established by its founding fathers,” the letter reads.

Former Imo State House of Assembly speaker Lawman Duruji has also left the party.

Nze Biaduo, the state organising secretary; Pascal Uzor, the vice-chairman (Owerri zone); and Nollywood actor Charles Awurum are among the other individuals that left the opposition party in Imo.

A wave of defections has rocked the PDP in the southeast state, with the lawmakers being the most recent ones.

Emeka Ihedioha, the party's previous nominee for the state's governorship, announced his resignation from the PDP on Tuesday.

Ihedioha left the PDP citing the party's incapacity to provide “credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”

Party members in Imo started to leave the PDP in large numbers when Ihedioha resigned.

Less than a week has passed since the party's national executive committee (NEC) convened in Abuja.

Internal conflicts have beset the opposition party.

Ahead of the NEC meeting, a few members called for Umar Damagum's resignation from his position as PDP national chairman.

Party members said Damagum altered the member lists of the caretaker committees in ten states, including Rivers.

However, the party decided to give Damagum an additional three months to serve in office during the April 18 NEC meeting.

The party requested that the state committee lists be reassembled by the National Working Committee (NWC).

The PDP spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, stated in a statement released on Tuesday that the NWC is unable to review the list due to a court injunction.

The statement reads: “After an extensive deliberation, the NWC noted the existence of an Ex- Parte Order issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja restraining the NWC from further action with respect to the status of the Rivers State Caretaker Committee List as published.”

“However, while the Rivers State Caretaker Committee List as published stands in compliance with the Order of the Court, the NWC notes the concerted intervention and efforts of various Organs of the Party, particularly the PDP Governors' Forum to finding a political solution to the issue of the Rivers State Caretaker Committee.

“The NWC therefore resolved to, in conjunction with the PDP Governors' Forum, intensify action in the continuing consultation to resolving the issues of the Rivers State PDP Chapter amicably.”