The fight is further intensified by the leadership crisis in Imo PDP between the party’s National Secretary, Mr. Samuel Anyanwu Y Ihedioha.
The director general of the campaign council told reporters in Owerri that Ihedioha’s actions could jeopardize Atiku’s campaign in Imo.
Egu said that since his promotion as CEO, Ihedioha had done a lot to thwart the entire campaign management of Imo PCC.
“The 41 PDP candidates in Imo have found it difficult to campaign for Atiku because of Ihedioha’s body language, who is playing a two-sided game.
“One cannot be working hard for Atiku and at the same time be painting the structure of his campaign poorly in the public’s estimation.
“All Ihedioha has been doing is furthering his ambition to be governor of Imo for the third time and that is why he is frustrating the CCP.Egu said.
He alleged that instead of ensuring a cohesive campaign structure, Ihedioha had been misguiding the PCC and thwarting the harmonious role of council members in furthering his gubernatorial ambition.
He argued that there was no reason for Ihedioha to continue to call meetings at his residence when the PCC had a suitable campaign building in Owerri.
“There is a party secretariat in Owerri where you can call meetings, if you don’t like the Atiku/Okowa campaign building.
“All of Ihedioha’s candidates within the presidential campaign council have also refused to attend council meetings.
“I called meetings on December 24, 2022, January 7 and January 11, and not a single Ihedioha loyalist in Imo CCP attended.
“We advise Ihedioha to desist from unilaterally calling meetings of his selected nominees at his private residence on behalf of Imo PCC because we cannot guarantee his true intentions.”‘ he is stressed.
Egu, the Imo CCP, had resorted to media campaigns and was engaging support groups to facilitate Atiku/Okowa’s victory.
“We have formed Atiku/Okowa teams at the district and collection center levels.
“These measures are complementary to the structures established by the state executive council of the PPD and those running for election for other positions,” he said.
A PDP chief and member of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, at the press conference, Mr. Myke Ikeoku alleged that Ihedioha had refused to invest in the party’s CCP.
“It is obvious that the party’s state executive council became the organization for Ihedioha’s re-election campaign because every action it has taken with regard to the CCP furthers the self-interest of Ihedioha’s gubernatorial ambition.
“Atiku’s campaign in Imo is in trouble because Ihedioha has been using the Atiku/Okowa Campaign in the state to campaign for his gubernatorial bid. This will destroy the chance that Atiku has in Imo”. Ikeoku said.
However, dismissing all the allegations, the PDP’s Imo publicity secretary, Mr. Collins Okpuruzo, described Ihedioha as the party’s leader in the state.
He said Ihedioha was genuinely committed to the victory of Atiku and the party’s 41 candidates in Imo.
“I can confirm today that most of the activities carried out for our presidential candidate are being financed by Ihedioha.
“The advertising programs that we have and the billboards, advertorials and jingles that are everywhere are directly sponsored by Ihedioha.
“He has also deployed his transport network, contacts and loyalists on the field to aggressively mobilize for Atiku Abubakar’s victory.
“Anyone who accuses Ihedioha of not supporting or working for Atiku Abubakar’s victory is only playing the gallery and is only being dishonest.” Okpuruzo stressed.
