IMO 2011: GROUPS THREATEN PROTEST VOTES AGAINST PDP

Two political groups in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State have kicked against suspected plot by certain individuals to substitute Miss Ijeoma Echeruo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the state House of Assembly with one Kingsley Dimaku.

The groups, Ehime Patriotic Front and Ehime Women Leaders Forum observed that the on-going plan to replace her was not only unpopular but counter productive to the political fortunes of the PDP in the area.

The groups in separate petitions to the acting National Chairman of PDP with copies made available to Daily Sun alleged that the people, in the past had plunged the party into deep crisis in the area, accusing one Chief Tony Chukwu of trying to subvert the candidature of Echeruo whose emergence had stabilized the party in the area.

They pointed out that Echeruo was the first woman to emerge as a House of Assembly Candidate in the entire Okigwe Senatorial Zone (Imo North) since 1960. According to them, she was duly returned and her name transmitted accordingly by the state chapter of the PDP in strict compliance with INEC laid down guildelines to the national headquarters of the Party.

'We also wish to remind the PDP that injustice against Hon. Ijeoma Echruo is injustice against the entire women population in Imo State and if it is not immediately redressed, women in Ehime Mbano will have no other option than to express their grievances through the ballot box.'

The petition of EWLF was signed by its President-General and Secretary-General, Lady Iwuo Centia Anyanwu, Lolo Louis Okoroamadi respectively while Chief Iwundu Okoroafor and Dr. Horold Iwunze endorsed for Ehime Patriotic Front.