By: Malachy Ukandu
There are indications that chieftains and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are awaiting the review of the Supreme Court Judgement that declared Senator Hope Uzodinma as Governor of Imo State.
The nation’s apex court had removed Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as Governor after he was declared winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election by INEC.
Since the January 14, 2020 verdict of the Supreme Court, there have been protests by PDP members and supporters in the State capital who opposed the verdict citing flaws in the judgement.
There has been noticeable development in the PDP in the State with more than nine of its members crossing over to the All Progressive Congress APC, since the Supreme Court gave its judgement.
Seven others resisted the pressure to join the ruling APC.
The State Chairman of the party, Charles Ezekwem had dumped the party he leads citing “prevailing circumstances” as his major reason for his defection.
Since the Supreme Court Judgement, the PDP has not found it easy in the State.It also lost the Okigwe North re run seat to the APC candidate, Marian Onuoha recently.
It was gathered that some top chieftains and members of the party are at cross roads over the sudden twist of events in the party.
The only restraining factor seems to be the much awaited review of the judgement that sacked Ihedioha as Governor.
A party official who spoke on condition of anonymity said “Some party members are just hanging on because of the review instituted by Ihedioha at the Supreme Court
“You will be shocked the more if the review of the judgement does not go as expected.
“I can tell you some members are secretly romancing with chieftains of the APC in the State on the guise they cannot afford to stay in opposition for another eight years.
“However, there are still committed members who believe in the cause we are fighting and hope that the injustice done to Ihedioha will be reversed.
The PDP was the leading opposition party in Imo State for eight years.
It merely bounced back as ruling party for seven months before the Supreme Court Judgement ousted Emeka Ihedioha and declared Senator Hope Uzodinma of the APC as duly elected Governor.
Aside protests it has carried out to showcase it’s displeasure with the judgement, it was unclear if meetings are been held at grassroots level as a measure to glue party members together in the face of the ongoing turbulence.
Mr. Chris Ike, a party chieftain however complained that dividends of being the party in power never reached party members at the grassroots when the PDP held sway in the State for seven months
“Aside the bags of rice we received when Ihedioha was in office, we never received much dividends but we remain optimistic this injustice will be reversed” he said