The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imo State chapter, has issued a scathing critique of Governor Hope Uzodinma's administration, accusing it of lacking integrity and transparency as Nigeria marks its 26th Democracy Day celebration.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, the party's Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiaku, urged the governor to restore people's confidence in democratic governance, noting that despite the administration's shortcomings, there is still time to make amends with less than three years remaining in the current term.
Democratic Principles Under Threat
The Imo PDP emphasized that there is "little or nothing in the State to trigger elation of the average Imo citizen amid the celebration of democracy," citing what they described as an absence of transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law under the current administration.
According to the opposition party, Governor Uzodinma has undermined the roles of both the legislature and judiciary, effectively running a government where "the executive operates without recourse to other arms of government."
"Citizens are now weary of prevailing human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, administrative recklessness, abuse of power, and lack of power separation that signposts his regime," the statement read.
Judicial Crisis Highlighted
The PDP pointed to the absence of a Chief Judge in Imo State for nearly a year as a prime example of what they termed the governor's "greed and undemocratic nature."
"How can people really celebrate democracy in a state that is without a Chief Judge for close to a year? This is the first of its kind in the history of Imo State," Obiaku stated.
The party alleged that when the position became vacant on November 16, 2024, instead of following constitutional procedures by requesting recommendations from the National Judicial Council, Governor Uzodinma appointed Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu as Acting Chief Judge. This appointment was subsequently declared void by the NJC.
"The absence of a Chief Judge for 8 months means cases are not being assigned because only the Chief Judge can do so, as well as many other functions only a Chief Judge can perform in a democracy," the statement added.
Allegations of Financial Impropriety
The opposition party further accused the Uzodinma administration of lack of transparency in the award of government contracts, claiming that the Public Procurement Bureau has been shut down and contract processes are kept secret, without legislative oversight.
"We have seen the government recently re-award the World Bank–Umuguma and the Nekede–Iheanwa roads in Owerri for construction. These are roads awarded in 2020 by the same administration for tens of billions without anything tangible happening on the roads. This is the height of theft and sleaze," the statement alleged.
The PDP also claimed that over N500 billion in local government allocations has been mismanaged since the inception of the current administration, with no visible development in rural infrastructure, education, or payment of minimum wage and pensions.
Security Concerns Raised
The statement referenced several security incidents, including the alleged killing of fourteen young men from Otulu Community in 2022, whom the party claims were innocently attending a traditional marriage ceremony when they were killed by a government security outfit.
"Recently, the Agwa Community in Oguta LGA of the state decried the reckless killing of over 100 of its members by suspected Fulani herdsmen. In the face of this, and so many cases of killings, kidnapping and organ harvesting witnessed in the state, the Uzodinma administration remains silent," the PDP spokesperson maintained.
Despite these criticisms, the Imo PDP urged citizens not to lose faith in democratic governance or stop participating in the democratic process, assuring them that the current administration "will only last for a while."
As of press time, the Imo State Government had not responded to these allegations.
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