2023: Atiku Presidential Ambition Threatened Over Crisis In Imo PDP

The presidential ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar could be under threat due to the crisis rocking the Imo State chapter of the party.

There is a leadership tussle between the former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha and the state’s chapter of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

The Director-General of the presidential campaign council, Greg Egu accused Ihedioha of frustrating campaign plans.

Egu while addressing reporters in Owerri said Ihedioha’s actions could jeopardise Atiku’s campaign in the state.

According to Egu, since his emergence as director-general, Ihedioha had done a lot of harm to frustrate the entire campaign management of the Imo PCC.

He said, “All the 41 candidates of the PDP in Imo have found it difficult to campaign for Atiku because of the body language of Ihedioha who is playing a double-faced game.

“One cannot be working hard for Atiku and at the same time be painting his campaign structure in a bad light in the estimation of the public.

“All that Ihedioha has been doing is to further his ambition to be Imo governor a third time and that is why he is frustrating the PCC.”

He alleged that the former governor has been frustrating the function of council members to further his governorship ambition.

Egu wondered why Ihedioha fix meetings for his house when the PCC has a campaign building in Owerri.

He added, “There is a party secretariat in Owerri where he can convene meetings if he doesn’t like the Atiku/Okowa campaign building.

“All Ihedioha’s nominees within the presidential campaign council have also refused to attend meetings of the council.

“I called meetings on December 24, 2022, January 7 and January 11, and not a single loyalist of Ihedioha in the Imo PCC attended.

“We warn Ihedioha to desist from unilaterally convening meetings of his selected nominees in his private residence in the name of the Imo PCC because we cannot guarantee his true intentions.”

The DG noted that the presidential campaign council in the state had resorted to media campaigns and is engaging support groups to facilitate Atiku/Okowa victory.

Egu said, “We have constituted Atiku/Okowa teams at the ward levels and collation centres.

“These measures are complementary to the structures set up by the state executive council of PDP and those contesting elections into other offices.”