OWERRI, Nigeria – The Imo state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has claimed that seven of its State Working Committee members who resigned and defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, did so out of fear of indictment over alleged mismanagement of N1.4 billion earmarked for the 2023 presidential campaign.
The members who defected on Sunday, June 18, 2023, include Deputy Chairman Martin Ejiogu, Vice Chairman Chibuisi Obido, Secretary Ray Emeana, Publicity Secretary Collins Opurozor, Youth Leader Greg Nwadike, Woman Leader Maria Mbakwe, and Treasurer Josiah Eze.
In a press briefing at the PDP secretariat in Owerri, the Financial Secretary of the PDP in the state, Bede Ejimmadu, stated that a report was in the works implicating the defectors in the alleged financial mismanagement.
“They are just trying to run away from being indicted, but that will not save them. The report will soon be completed and made known to the public,” said Ejimmadu.
Ejimmadu stated that the campaign fund has been unaccounted for and that his office did not receive the said amount.
He alleged that the defectors had taken it upon themselves to usurp his position and misappropriate party funds.
However, he noted that their departure was not a significant concern as they had the right to do so, adding that the PDP would find capable hands to replace them.
