In a dramatic turn of events, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) gubernatorial candidate, High Chief Dr. Kemdi Chino Opara, staged a walkout from a townhall meeting organized by the Justice, Development, Peace and Caritas Commission (JDPC) at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Hall in Owerri, Imo State.
The event, which aimed to provide a platform for Imo’s gubernatorial candidates to present their manifestos to the public, took an unexpected twist when only six out of the 17 political parties fielding governorship candidates were allowed to showcase their plans for the state. This move has sparked outrage and allegations of discrimination.
In a press release, Dr. Kemdi Chino Opara and the YPP campaign council condemned what they perceived as a prejudicial and unjust exclusion of most governorship candidates from the townhall meeting. They argued that such a selective approach contradicts the principles of good governance and transparency that JDPC stands for.
The YPP’s candidate, Dr. Kemdi Chino Opara, is considered by his party to be the most qualified gubernatorial candidate in Imo State. His exclusion from the event raised concerns that this decision may undermine the fairness of the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
The YPP candidate, accompanied by his running mate and members of the YPP Campaign Council, decided to walk out of the meeting in protest against what they considered unwarranted discrimination. Furthermore, it was revealed that only 20 supporters of the candidates were allowed inside the hall, which left the public excluded from this supposedly open townhall meeting.
This incident has left many questioning the intentions of a faith-based organization like JDPC, which had a unique opportunity to help Imo residents make informed decisions by providing them with insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the various gubernatorial candidates.
The Deputy Director of Media and Communications, Rt. Hon Michael Anyanwu, signed the press release, expressing the YPP’s strong disapproval of the alleged discrimination.
The controversy surrounding this townhall meeting highlights the importance of transparency and fairness in the political process as Imo State approaches a crucial gubernatorial election.
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