Ex-deputy governor, former speaker in Imo resign from PDP

Gerald Irona, a former deputy governor in Imo, has resigned as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former deputy governor announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Oguta, Oguta LGA of the state.

Irona attributed his decision to quit the party to the “dissatisfaction with the current situation of things” in the PDP.

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

Lawman Duruji, a former speaker of the Imo state house of assembly, has also quit the party.

Others who also exited the opposition party in Imo include Nze Biaduo, state organising secretary; Pascal Uzor, vice-chairman (Owerri zone); and Charles Awurum, a Nollywood actor.

The politicians are the latest in a gale of defections that have hit the PDP in the south-east state.

On Tuesday, Emeka Ihedioha, a former governorship candidate of the party in the state, resigned from the PDP.

Ihedioha cited the party’s inability to offer “credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)” as his reason for leaving the PDP.

Following Ihedioha’s resignation, party members in Imo began to quit the PDP in droves.

LEADERSHIP CRISIS IN PDP

The development comes less than a week after the national executive committee (NEC) of the party met in Abuja.

The opposition party has been enmeshed in internal wranglings.

Before the NEC meeting, some members demanded the resignation of Umar Damagum as the national chairman the PDP.

Members of the party alleged that Damagum tampered with the caretaker committee member lists in Rivers and 10 other states.

But at the NEC meeting held on April 18, the party extended Damagum’s stay in office by another three months.

The party asked the national working committee (NWC) to reconstitute the committee lists across the states.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, said the NWC cannot review the list because of a court injunction.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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.”