The fortunes of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State suffered a setback yesterday as one of its strong members, Dr. (Mrs) Kema Chikwe, announced her retirement from partisan politics and endorsed the re-election of the incumbent governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma for another term.
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Imo State governor, Oguwike Nwachuku in a statement said Dr. Chikwe’s position has not only left the PDP candidate for the November 11 governorship election, Sen Samuel Anyanwu and his campaign train at the crossroads, but has pierced the soul of a Party already suffering from self -inflicted crisis with a sharper knife.
Hi words: “However, the loss of the PDP has become the gain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as Dr. Chikwe is strongly throwing her weight behind other calls from well meaning Imo people and groups for the reelection of Governor Uzodimma for a second term in office based on the governor’s outstanding performance.
“At the 6th Anniversary of the Women Leadership Institute (WLI), a body formed by Dr. Chikwe to mentor women in politics and other ventures, in Abuja at the weekend, she proudly endorsed Governor Uzodimma for re-election and proceeded to announce that she had quit partisan politics.
She said Governor Uzodimma has lived up to public expectations in office with regard to his programmes and projects that are both people-oriented and life changing.
The Anniversary which had Governor Uzodimma himself in attendance, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, former PDP National Vice Chairman (South East), Nze Fidelis Ozikwukwu Chukwu, among other key national political figures across party lines, was an opportunity Dr. Chikwe used to remind the audience of her foray into partisan politics.
“For example, in the course of Dr. Chikwe’s foray into partisan politics, she became a former Aviation Minister, former PDP National Women Leader and Board of Trustees member, former Ambassador of Nigeria to Ireland, former Chairman of Board of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) among others.”