Emerging facts have so far revealed why former governor of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha withdrew from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship contest which he publicly announced on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

The announcement by Ihedioha jolted a lot of political event watchers across the country particularly the people of Imo State that were looking forward to his possible emergence as at the PDP governorship primary.

Checks by Forefront News indicated that the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was concerned about the obvious lack of level playing field that was being displayed by the National Working Committee of the PDP.

Specifically, Ihedioha expressed concern over what he described as an open practice by the PDP national leadership by allowing an aspirant for the same governorship ticket, referring to the National Secretary of the Party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to supervise the conduct of the primaries in which he is a participant, stressing that the action of the party is against natural justice.

This was collaborated by a pressure group within the party on the aegis of “The PDP Action 2023,” which clearly kicked against the National Secretary of the Party remaining in office and supervising a governorship election for which he is an aspirant.

The PDP Action 2023 in a statement by its Chairman, Hon. Rufus Omeire, blamed the suspended National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the culprit in the brazen attempt to deny Imo State of a potentially good and popular governorship candidate that will wrestle power from the APC in the state.

Further checks by Forefront News revealed that Hon. Ihedioha, a dedicated member of PDP since 1999, was unfairly and unjustly treated by the Ayu-led leadership of the PDP.

It was equally gathered that the National Secretary of the Party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who is believed to be working with Governor Hope Uzodinma to thwart Ihedioha’s chances, had already indicated interest in vying for the governorship primaries of the PDP in his Imo State.

In spite of his indicating interest in contesting the governorship ticket, Senator Anyanwu as the National Secretary has refused to resign his position in the Party thus giving him undue advantage ahead of the party primary as he is the official constituting the various teams to conduct the primary elections.

Ihedioha, it was gathered pointed the lacuna of allowing a sitting National Secretary to be an aspirant while at the same time being the person to supervise the primaries for which he is a contestant.

Ihedioha expressed shock that as the National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu was himself “screened” as an aspirant and later on signed the clearance certificate of the “successful” aspirants including himself.

Ihedioha, it was also gathered complained to political leaders about the grave violation of this elementary principle of natural justice which stipulates that a man should not be a judge in his own case to no avail.

According to him; “Allowing Senator Anyanwu to supervise his election primaries cannot stand legal or moral scrutiny by any fair-minded person.

The provisions of Section 47 {5} of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as amended), says that: “…in the case of resignation for the purpose of vying for an elective office which shall be effective within the period stipulated in the guidelines issued for such elective office by National Executive Committee of the Party, or the State Executive Committee in respect of Local Government elections.”

This provision in the party constitution required that the resignation period of any National Officer seeking elective office shall be expected to conform with but, the PDP under the watch of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu refused to comply with the order thereby conferring undue advantage on a National Officer of the party, to remain in office and preside over primaries for which they maybe candidates.

This was as it gathered that any Guideline issued by the party that refuses to comply with this clause is patently unlawful and unconstitutional.

In this wise, Senator Anyanwu is left with a moral burden as well as legal obligation to resign his office as National Secretary to avoid conflict of interest and rule of natural justice.

In the meantime, Ihedioha has opened up discussion with the Labour Party (LP) towards getting a ticket to enable him pursue his governorship ambition which was truncated four years ago by a controversial judgement of the Supreme Court.

Forefront news