By Abiola Olawale
The internal crisis bedevilling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to escalate as Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere, the lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State at the House of Representatives has been expelled from the party with immediate effect over alleged gross indiscipline, insubordination and anti-party activities.
His explosion was announced in a press statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Imo State chapter of the PDP, Lancelot Obiak.
In the statement, Obiak said Ugochinyere was expelled by the executive of the PDP in Ideato LGA in a letter dated December 5, 2024, and signed by the LGA Chairman, ThankGod Okeke, and the Secretary, Onyebuchi Umeh, respectively.
The statement reads in part: “The expulsion was conveyed in a letter by the Ideato LGA chapter of the party dated December 5, 2024, and signed by the LGA Chairman, Hon. ThankGod Okeke and the Secretary, Onyebuchi Umeh which they addressed to the State Chairman.
“The expulsion followed the report of the party’s disciplinary committee, dated November 27, 2024, which investigated misconduct charges against Ugochinyere in line with Section 57 (1-4) of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended.
“The lawmaker had been suspended at his Umuopia/Umukegwu ward on October 14, 2024, after failing to honour the invitation to appear before the ward Executive Committee on October 5, 2024, to answer to allegations of disciplinary offences, and ignoring reminders and further invitation sent to him on October 7, 2024.
“The letter partly read: “Upon receipt of the report, the LGA Executive Committee of Ideato North met on the 5th of December, 2024, and unanimously adopted the report of the disciplinary committee”.
“In light of this, Hon. Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwonu is hereby expelled from the party (PDP) with immediate effect and he ceases to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Umuopia/Umukegwu ward of Ideato North LGA”.
“The party found Ugochinyere guilty of deliberate failure to attend meetings and participate in activities of the party for a long time in breach of Section 58 (1)e) of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended. He was said to have engaged in unauthorised publicity of disputes within the party which contravenes section 58(1)i of the party’s constitution. Also, he formed parallel executive and organs of the party in his ward and at the LGA and National levels, which also breaches the party’s constitution”.
“Furthermore, he was found guilty of consistently making derogatory and provocative public statements against the party and some of its national leaders, an action that brought the party to public ridicule”.
The New Diplomat reports that Ugochinyere has been a fierce critic of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The lawmaker, among other lawmakers elected under the platform of the PDP, had threatened to dump the party if the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Illiya Damagum, fails to suspend Wike.
Ugochinyere is also believed to be a supporter of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State who is currently battling with Wike over what has been regarded as a political rift.
