– insist PDP tickets not reserved for anyone

By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

The leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo state have appealed to former governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, the member representing the Orlu Senatorial District, Senator Hope Uzodinma and others who are touted to be on their way out of the party to return and take their rightful place in the party.

Senator Uzodinma and some members of the house of representatives from the state were said to be planning a mass defection out of the PDP following the supreme court ruling that sacked Modu Sherif as the then national chairman, resulting to the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party taking over the party structures across the state.

But, speaking at the party’s stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat in Owerri, elder statesman and chieftain of the party, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu appealed to the aggrieved members to come back to the party and help build the party because, as he put it, the party needs them now if they must win the 2019 governorship election.

According to Iwuanyanwu, the party has learnt its lessons from the elections of 2015 and could not afford to make any mistake. “This is a very happy moment of our life as a party. In Nigeria today, everybody is asking PDP to come back and we have learnt our lessons. So, I want to call on those said they are leaving the party to come back. Who are leaving the party for?”, he queried.

Iwuanyanwu called on every member who is interested in running for any position to come and declare their interest to the party executive in the state, saying this was the right time for aspirants to come and build the party because the more aspirants the better.

He said it is not fair for people to be outside and peddling rumours that positions had been shared in the party.

Earlier, chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Charles Ezekwem decried what he called “the unfounded rumour” that the party leadership had endorsed particular candidates for governorship and other positions, saying there has never been any such reservations for any individuals.

He, however, said the party would recognise those who worked hard for the party, but insisted that every aspirant must be given a level-playing ground to contest for any position in the party because every position is open to every qualified party member.

Ezekwem assured that the party under him will run transparent primaries to give tickets to those elected by party members.

The meeting which also had Chief Achike Udenwa,a former governor of the state and former deputy speaker of the house of representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, among many other dignitaries,in attendance featured a fund raising. This was initiated by Chief Iwuanyanwu and the party members tried to raise about N2billion to revive the party.

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Source
https://orientdailynews.com.ng/politics/imo-pdp-leaders-beg-ohakim/