*BY: RALPH EJIMKONYE*
Elder Statesman and Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has spoken on the simmering rift in the party between the party’s governorship candidate, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Senator Anyanwu who represents Owerri zone in the Senate and Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, are at cross roads over the party’s governorship ticket.
Anyanwu had accused Ihedioha of manipulating the party’s governorship primary to his favour. He had gone to court and declined his appointment as member of Imo PDP Governorship Campaign Council.
Party stakeholders are really disturbed over this development barely 50 days to the governorship election in the State. But hope came the way of teeming party faithful when Chief Iwuanyanwu, widely respected for his fatherly role in the party sued for peace between Ihedioha and Senator Anyanwu.
Speaking at the inauguration of the PDP campaign Council at the State Party Secretariat, Iwuanyanwu said he had initaited reconciliation and peace in the party when he directed Senator Anyanwu to withdraw the matter in court where he challenged Ihedioha’s victory.
“I don’t believe in the complain by Samdaddy that the primary election was rigged by Ihedioha. I have asked him to withdraw the matter in court. Samdaddy has assured me he will withdraw the matter soon”
This led to thunderous ovation from party chieftains who had seen Senator Anyanwu’s hardline posture as a negative development that may hurt the party in the polls.