*As Tension Grip Okorocha, Hope Uzodinma Camps*
BY RALPH EJIMKONYE
There are ticking time bombs in both the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State just as the delay by an Abuja High Court in deciding who is the authentic governorship flagbearer of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State has further increased anxiety in the party.
The APC in Imo State had filed in names of candidates for National Assembly positions last week leaving the governorship ticket open for the Courts to decide.
The Court decision will rest the matter after “harmonization talks” said to have been initiated by the national leadership of the party had crumbled.
The two rival camps in the party, the Rescue mission camp of Governor Okorocha and the Coalition who are backing Senator Hope Uzodinma remain optimistic that the court judgment will favour them.
However, political pundits argue that the decision of the Federal High Court in the matter will only give temporary victory to either Okorocha or Hope Uzodinma camps.
Mr. Chuks Onuoha,a political analyst spoke on the long term legal implications of the ongoing court matter.
“Whoever is the pronounced the governorship candidate of the APC in Imo State by the Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday will be recognized as the governorship candidate of the APC in Imo State for now.
“The matter may move up to the Supreme Court much later as it is expected that the loser in the scramble for the party ticket may want to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.
“Even if the APC candidate emerges the Governor of the State and the process of the guber primary that produced him is run aground by the law, it may be reversed by the Courts
SIMILAR SCENARIO IN IMO PDP
A similar scenario is playing out in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Imo State. Senator Samuel Anyanwu who lost the party’s guber ticket to Hon Emeka Ihedioha is also in court challenging Ihedioha’s victory.
Anyanwu had alleged over voting and unwholesome practices that marred the Primary. The matter is before the law courts as Ihedioha still remains the governorship candidate of the party.
“The intensity of the case is dangerous. I commend the PDP elders who have told Senator Anyanwu to withdraw the matter from court in the interest of peace and progress of the party ahead of the 2019 elections” said Mr. Onuoha.
RIVERS STATE 2006 POLITICAL SCENARIO
The 2006 political scenario which produced Rotimi Amaechi as Governor of Rivers State almost has the same colouration with ongoing political development in Imo PDP and APC.
Amaechi became Governor of Rivers State after the Supreme Court ruled that he was the rightful candidate of the PDP.
Onuoha said ” Amaechi’s was recognized by the court as the winner of the primary and the party at that time wrongly gave the ticket to someone else. Are we not seeing similar colouration both in the APC and PDP in Imo State assuming the matter is not amicably resolved within themselves.
In Imo APC, if Nwosu or Hope Uzodinma eventually wins the ongoing court matter on who holds the party guber ticket, what if the higher courts like in the case of Amaechi reverses it later.I do not want to pre empt the courts though.
” I commend the PDP for taking a wise step.Since Ihedioha has emerged the governorship candidate and because he is the best to lead the party, Senator Anyanwu should drop off the case
“We have a worse scenario in Imo APC and these critical issues we should look out for” Mr Onuoha said.
