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Tension in Imo over suspension of
PDP Chieftains
By Ben Duru
Correspondent, Owerri
The political climate in Imo State is gradually tensing
following the suspension of the Acting Chairman of the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Eddy Anyanwu, and two others from office.
The government was said to have orchestrated their
suspension. But the Special Adviser to Governor Achike Udenwa on Political
Matters, Chief George Eguh, said though he was not aware of the action,
government had always allowed the party to have its way in its decision making
process.
The embattled Anyanwu has denied his suspension, saying the
action taken was illegal and does not fall in line with the provisions of the
party constitutions.
In an announcement in the Federal Radio Corporation of
Nigeria he said the meeting that was called via the state-owned Imo
Broadcasting Corporation was fake and that members who attend the meeting did
so at their own risk.
Most of those in attendance at the meeting were party
loyalists and aides to the governor including commissioners, special advisers,
and executive assistants.
Before the commencement of the meeting, truck-loads of
mobile policemen were seen at the party secretariat with the officers taking
strategic positions within the area, apparently sensing that trouble could
erupt.
It was learnt that the meeting resolved unanimously to
suspended the three members who were absent for committing the offences without
an opportunity for them to clear themselves of the charges.
This action, a close confident of the chairman said, smacks
of witch-haunting and impatience by the party to allow due process in the case of fraud and ineptitude.
Even though the suspension of the trio were based on fraud,
sources insisted that the scenario which is playing itself out is a
continuation of the war over the suspension of the National Vice Chairman of
the PDP in the South East Zone, Nze Fidelis Ozichikwu-Chukwu, who was alleged
to have been suspended by his Amakohia , Ihitte/Uboma Ward.
Sources said the hierarchy in the state is not happy with
the suspension of the erstwhile Chairman, Dr. Alex Obi for whom party faithful
in Imo have done everything to free from the hook of the suspension order
slammed on him by the National Working Committee.
The sources said that since the NWC where Ozichukwu is a
member has refused to review the order, the state should also descend on t hose
who are remotely connected to him and who have not properly aligned themselves
with the forces against him.
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