The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapters in Ideato North Local Government and Umukegwu/Umuopia ward have dismissed reports of the expulsion of Imo Ugochinyere, the member of the House of Representatives for Ideato North/South Constituency.
The expulsion, reportedly announced by the Imo State executive of the party, has been labeled as false and misleading by local and ward leaders.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the leadership of the party in Umukegwu/Umuopia ward and Ideato North Local Government Area condemned the expulsion as “fake news” and called on the public to disregard the claims. The statement was signed by the party’s chairmen for Umukegwu/Umuopia ward, Mathias Onuebunwa, and Ideato North LGA, Emeka Eze. They reaffirmed that Ugochinyere remained a full and active member of the PDP at both the ward and local government levels, as well as across Imo State and the entire country.
The statement read: “The Ward and LGA executive of Umukegwu/Umuopia ward and Ideato North LG PDP want the public to disregard the fake news being spread by pro-Wike APC members, coordinated by the disgraced national secretary of PDP, Sam Anyawu, regarding the purported expulsion of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, who is a strong pillar and leader of the party in Imo State and Ideato North.”
The leaders further emphasized that Ugochinyere was a key member of the party, highlighting his ongoing efforts to protect the PDP from political betrayal. “Ikenga is a strong member of PDP, and we at the ward and LGA have no reason to suspend him, let alone expel him. We owe him our salute and confidence for his courageous efforts to rescue the PDP from those who are working to sell the party to the APC, under the guidance of Anyawu and Damagun,” they continued.
The party leaders also expressed confidence in Ugochinyere’s leadership, asserting that his position as the highest-ranking elected PDP officer in the state made him beyond the reach of political maneuvers aimed at undermining his standing. “Ikenga is above such petty political games, and his leadership of Imo PDP remains solid. We trust our leader and have no doubt in his commitment to the party,” the statement concluded.
This response underscores the ongoing divisions within the PDP in Imo State, with factions aligned with different political figures, including the controversial figures of Sam Anyawu and the Wike camp, engaged in an internal struggle for influence within the party.
