Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, which he claims to have been a part of since the organization’s founding in 1998.
Ihedioha, who identified as one of the PDP’s original members, gave as his reason for quitting the party the party’s incapacity to implement internal reforms and offer strong opposition.
Ihedioha discussed his long-standing dedication to the growth and reform of the party in a statement titled “Resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party” released on Tuesday.
He stated, “Since 1998, I have contributed my quota to the development and transformation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as one of the founding members. All these years, I have taken pride in the fact that the PDP is a party that will always look inward for internal reforms and provide credible leadership for the people, whether in power or outside power.”
Ihedioha, however, voiced his dissatisfaction with the party’s current direction, saying it goes against his personal convictions.
He said, “Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly, no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.”
Acknowledging the difficulty of his decision, Ihedioha emphasised the necessity of taking this step.
“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective immediately. While this decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is the right one,” he stated.
Despite his resignation, Ihedioha affirmed his commitment to contributing to the nation’s democratic process and good governance.
“Despite this resignation, I will always be available to offer my services towards the deepening of democracy and good governance in Nigeria,” he declared.
