Olusegun Ariyo
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled the House of Representatives member from Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State and Spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
PDP expelled Ugochinyere over gross indiscipline, insubordination, and anti-party activities.
His expulsion was contained in a letter from the Ideato LGA chapter of PDP, dated December 5, 2024, and signed by the LGA Chairman, Hon. ThankGod Okeke, and the Secretary, Onyebuchi Umeh.
The letter was addressed to the state chairman of the party.
The expulsion followed the report of the party’s disciplinary committee, dated November 27, 2024, which investigated misconduct charges against Ugochinyere in line with Section 57 (1-4) of the PDP Constitution 2017, as amended.
The lawmaker had been suspended at his Umuopia/Umukegwu ward on October 14, 2024, after failing to honour an invitation to appear before the ward Executive Committee on October 5, 2024, to answer allegations of disciplinary offenses, and ignoring the reminders and further invitations sent to him on October 7, 2024.
The letter partly read: “Upon receipt of the report, the LGA Executive Committee of Ideato North met on December 5, 2024, and unanimously adopted the report of the disciplinary committee.
“In light of this, Hon. Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwonu is at this moment expelled from the party (PDP) with immediate effect, and he ceases to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Umuopia/Umukegwu ward of Ideato North LGA.”
PDP found Ugochinyere guilty of deliberate failure to attend meetings and participate in party activities for a long time, in breach of Section 58 (1)(e) of the PDP constitution 2017, as amended.
He was said to have engaged in unauthorized publicity of disputes within the party, which contravenes Section 58(1)(i) of the party’s constitution. Additionally, he formed parallel executive and organs of the party in his ward, at the LGA and national levels, which also breaches the party’s constitution.
The lawmaker was found guilty of consistently making derogatory and provocative public statements against the party and some of its national leaders, an action that brought the party to public ridicule.
