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PDP to investigate Ozichukwu’s activities
By Don Bassey
Correspondent,
Abuja
The Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) says it would investigate claims that the South-East
National Vice Chairman of the party, Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, was engaged in
activities capable of destabilising the party in Imo State.
Giving this indication in Abuja in reaction to a petition by
a faction of the party, PDP’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Shuaibu
Oyedokun, said the party would first set up a national committee to investigate
the authenticity of the 56 party leaders and constituents that signed the
petition brought to the party’s national secretariat before investigating
Ozichukwu.
His words: “I was the one who even received the
delegation. They are appealing that the suspension placed on the state chairman
and other party stalwarts be lifted. The suspension of the state chairman was
for six months. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party is looking
at it. We even received the state chairman’s letter of appeal.
So, we are looking at it”.
Continuing, Oyedokun said: “On the call for the
suspension of Ozichukwu, a national committee would be set up to investigate
the authenticity or otherwise of the signatures in the S.O.S sent to the NEC of
the PDP. Since Ozichukwu is a member of NEC, he will be investigated as well.
So, we are doing something towards that”.
Some members of the PDP in Imo State had in a petition
titled “S.O.S From The Entire Leadership and Membership of the PDP in the
state from Ozichukwu and His Co-travellers” demanded the review of the
suspension order placed on the State Chairman and other officers of the party
in the state.
The protesters who trooped into the party’s Zone 5,
Wuse national secretariat of the party, equally urged the party to uphold the
suspension of Ozichukwu for being “a dangerous influence on the
party” and for “his inimical conduct” which “has
greatly contributed to the dwindling fortunes of the party at the ward, LGA and
state levels”.
Other allegations
the petitioners accused levelled against Ozichukwu include illegal
collection of N20, 000 seminar fee from 1,350 councillorship aspirants and 135
chairmanship aspirants in the state in 2002 and other south east states for a
seminar thus putting the party in bad light.
Accusing him of orchestrating the suspension orders placed
against the state chairman and other officers of the party in the state, the
petitioners called for their re-instatement “with a view to returning
stability, peace and unity in the previously peaceful and stable party in the
state”.
The petition was signed by acting state chairman and other
state officials as well as council chairmen, deputy chairmen, legislative
council leaders and LG party chairmen from the 27 local councils in the state.
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