The national leadership of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has wielded the big stick in the move to rebuild leadership structure of the Imo State Chapter by dissolving the existing State Working Committee and announcing a 17-member Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the party for the next 90 days.
The decision was conveyed in a letter signed by the party’s National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, citing reports on the activities within the State Chapter as reason for the sudden change of leadership.
“The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Social Democratic Party has considered reports on the activities within the Imo State Chapter and has, accordingly, dissolved the State Working Committee in line with the 2022 Constitution of the Party, as amended and constituted a Caretaker Committee,” the letter declared.
The NWC approved the appointment of Engineer Augustine Okere as Acting State Chairman and Comrade Onyekachi Asonye as Acting State Secretary. The new team has been mandated to reorganize the troubled chapter and restore credibility ahead of future elections.
According to the directive, the committee’s terms of reference include, to reorganise the Party’s operations and activities in accordance with NWC Guidelines, to recruit fresh members especially youths and women across the State, to ensure regular meetings and events to enhance party prospects in forthcoming elections, and to provide monthly reports of the activities to the National Vice Chairman ,SE, and to the National Chairman.
The Caretaker Committee also comprises, Chief Raymond Egenti, Deputy Chairman, Comrade Chijioke Onuoha, Vice Chairman 1, Chief Innocent Ekejiu, Vice Chairman 2, and Tony Duru, Vice Chairman 3 among others.
Also on the list are Don Ubah, Publicity Secretary, Shanahan Nnadi, Legal Adviser, Princess Ifeoma Bassey the Organizing Secretary, Obinna Oguneme Youth Leader, and Amaka Osunde , Woman Leader.
Agunloye stressed that the tenure of the committee, shall be 90 days from the date of the letter or as the NWC may determine.
He further directed members to familiarize themselves with the constitution and policies of the party, noting that their appointments take immediate effect.
The letter was also copied to several key institutions, including the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the State Director of the DSS, and the State Independent Electoral Commission and other relevant bodies.