The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Orlu, Imo, has accused its governorship candidate at the 2019 governorship election Emeka Ihedioha of plotting the removal of Jones Onyereri as the party’s candidate for the Imo West senatorial district election.

Mr Ihedioha was removed from office as Imo governor on January 14, 2020, by the Supreme Court.

Making the allegation in a statement barely three days after the Supreme Court nullified the primary election of the party in Imo West senatorial district, which produced Mr Onyerere as its candidate for the parliamentary election, leaders and stakeholders of the party in Orlu disclosed that they had vehemently declared Mr Ihedioha persona non grata for masterminding the party’s loss.

“Following the Supreme Court verdict nullifying the election of Dr Jones Onyeriri as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)for the Imo West senatorial district, leaders and stakeholders of the party in Orlu zone have vehemently declared Chief Emeka Ihedioha persona non grata for ‘masterminding’ the loss,” said the statement.

The Supreme Court judgment indicates that PDP will not participate in the February senatorial election.

The party’s leadership alleged that Mr Ihedioha, by his actions, had put the effort of the party in Imo West to waste.

The Supreme Court declared the primary election invalid because it was held in Owerri, the Imo capital, rather than Orlu, the senatorial headquarters of Imo West.