By: COLLINS AMADI
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in Imo State has accused former governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha of surreptitiously working against the success of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa.
The Director-General of the PCC in the state, Hon. Greg Egu made the accusation, Thursday in Owerri while briefing newsmen on the state of affairs in the state chapter of the party.
Hear him: “It is a well known fact that since my emergence as the director, PCC in the state, which was in contrast with Ihedioha’s interest, he has done so much unthinkable things to frustrate the campaign council headed by me.
“He has accused me of embezzling millions of naira through sponsored publications. This goes a long way to buttress his penchant for running down the PCC project and that of Atiku/Okowa in Imo state.
“In addition, all the 41 candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the state have literally refused to campaign for Atiku Abubakar because he has asserted his self acclaimed authority over them”.
Egu further informed that Ihedioha is in the habit of dropping the names of Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal and former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke to manipulate the system to suit his third governorship ambition in the state.
The PCC Director-General in Imo State appealed to the PDP chairman in the state, Chief Charles Ugwu to call Emeka Ihedioha to order and desist from holding private meetings at his residence in the name of the Imo PCC.
In his remarks, a member of the PCC, Evangelist Myke Ikoku accused Emeka Ihedioha of diverting more than 1,600 bags of rice donated by the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to his cronies.
According to Ikoku, Delta state governor donated the bags of rice to Imo PDP for the yuletide but was shared to only Ihedioha’s loyalists.
Meanwhile, the party has denied allegations leveled against its two-time governorship candidate and former governor, Emeka Ihedioha.
The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Collins Opurozor told our correspondent on Thursday via telephone, that there is no iota of truth in the allegations that the former governor was working against the success of Atiku/Okowa ticket.
He also denied the purported diversion of bags of rice donated to the party in the state by the Delta State governor during the yuletide festivities.
Opurozor said; “For avoidance of doubt, no single member of the PDP in Imo State has championed the cause of Atiku more than the leader of the party, Emeka ihedioha.
“Anybody that said Ihedioha instructed candidates of the party not to campaign for Atiku is saying the opposite of truth.
“As a matter of fact, at our meeting, Ihedioha said any candidate who is not campaigning for Atiku should not expect his support. That is what he keeps on saying.
“Secondly, some bags of rice came to Imo State PDP. They were distributed to members of the party through the statutory organs of the party which is the local government leadership. All not even one bag was retained for Ihedioha, or his allies or cronies.
“There is single person in Imo state who has deployed his personal resources to ensure that Atiku wins in Imo State more than Emeka Ihedioha.
“For instance, if you go across Imo State today, you will notice that gigantic billboards of Atiku are springing up. They are being sponsored by Ihedioha. If you look around today, you will see the waves that Atiku is making in the grassroots and in the local media. it is Ihedioha that has deployed his goodwill, contacts, resources and allies to ensure Atiku is delivered.’
