Lawmaker Ikenga Ugochinyere Leaves PDP Amid Party Crisis

Ikenga Ugochinyere, the Imo lawmaker representing Ideato Federal Constituency, announced his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing a long‑standing internal conflict. He explained that the crisis is driven by individuals who treat the party as a personal enterprise and ignore established procedures. Ugochinyere made the disclosure during a Christmas solidarity visit from his constituents at his Akokwa residence in Ideato North Local Government Area.

He warned that the damage inflicted on the PDP by certain actors since the 2023 general elections is irreparable, and remaining with the party would be self‑denial. According to Ugochinyere, the party’s downfall stems from the actions of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike and his associates, who allegedly installed Damagun and Samuel Anyanwu in national leadership positions without following party protocols. Although he attempted to salvage the party, he ultimately decided to leave because of these destructive actions.

Ugochinyere is now consulting prominent politicians and groups to determine his next steps and will soon announce the new party he intends to join. He assured his supporters that he will continue to represent them effectively and vowed that every community in Ideato Nation will benefit from his legislative efforts. Reaffirming his commitment to his mandate, he emphasized that project commissioning will occur only after completion, allowing the community to test and validate the projects before official inauguration.

In the broader context of Imo politics, Ugochinyere criticized the state government’s attempts to prevent him from meeting his constituents, describing such actions as “infantile.” He accused the government of sealing off venues where his people had planned to receive him, forcing the event to be held at a private residence. He attributed this behavior to his rising popularity and called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intervene and prevent an escalation of the security situation in Imo. Confident in his ability to overcome challenges, Ugochinyere cited his past experiences and determination to continue serving his constituents.