Democracy Day: Imo PDP accuses Uzodinma of undermining rule of law, separation of power

As Nigeria celebrates its 27th Democracy Day, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Imo State chapter has accused Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration of undermining the rule of law and neglecting democratic principles, including the separation of powers.

The party also claimed that the governor’s style of governance erodes public confidence in governance.

In a press statement released through the office of spokesperson Lancelot Obiaku, the PDP highlighted that the separation of powers and the rule of law are essential components of true democracy.

The party said that Uzodinma’s leadership has failed to demonstrate a commitment to providing Imo residents with a genuine democratic experience, citing incidents of what it described as arbitrary use of force and power, lack of accountability in the management of public funds, disrespect for the rule of law, and a climate of corruption and insecurity over the past six years.

It added that these conditions do not inspire hope in democracy among ordinary Imo citizens during the Democracy Day commemoration.

“The administration is undermining the roles of the Legislature and the Judiciary, stifling the local government system by keeping it in subjugation, depriving it of resources, and effectively running a government where the Executive operates suo motu without recourse to the other arms of government,” the release stated.

The PDP asserted that the governor’s style of governance negates democratic tenets and has stifled the state’s development.

“We have seen nearly N700 billion in LGA allocations since the inception of the present regime go down the drain, with nothing to show for it—not in the development of rural infrastructure, commerce and industry, education, payment of minimum wage, pensions, and gratuities, among others. Our local government areas do not receive up to 10 percent of their allocations. How then would development reach the grassroots with the greed exhibited by the state government?”

“Uzodinma has refused to conduct democratic LGA elections and, having appointed sole administrators in the name of LGA chairmen, has continued to starve the people of the dividends of democracy by depriving them of the government that should ordinarily be closest to them.”

“For the first time in the history of the state, Imo went a year without a Chief Judge because the governor wants to run every show without recourse to democratic institutions. When the post became vacant on November 16, 2024, it was incumbent upon the governor to request from the National Judicial Council a recommendation for the appointment of the most senior judicial officer as Chief Judge, in accordance with Section 271(4) of the Nigerian Constitution,” the party added.

Regarding the appointment of a new Chief Judge, the PDP alleged that instead of the governor writing to the NJC, he appointed and sworn in Hon. Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu, who it said was not qualified to serve as Acting Chief Judge, an act that prompted the NJC to declare the appointment void.

The PDP stated that the development brought the state into public opprobrium, pointing out that the absence of a Chief Judge for nearly a year meant that cases could not be assigned because only the Chief Judge can do so, in addition to many other functions that only a Chief Judge can perform in a democracy.

“Today in Imo State, contracts awarded by the government are not advertised, and the governor has shut down the Public Procurement Bureau. The process of awarding contracts is kept secret, and not even the State Assembly has a say in them. The costs and other contract details are not made known to the people, who ordinarily are central to governance in a democratic setting.”

“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 and 2023 by the same administration for tens of billions of naira without anything tangible happening on them. This is the height of theft and sleaze perpetrated by an administration with a morbid inclination toward fraud,” the party further alleged.

The party, while wishing the Imo people and Nigerians a happy Democracy Day, urged them to keep faith in democratic governance, assuring them that a bright future lies ahead.