Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Sam Daddy), who represented Imo East in the senate, may be handed over the leadership of the party in the state by the national leadership of the party.
It was widely reported last week that some stakeholders in the PDP were pushing for a ‘new face” in PDP in the State in 2023. They contend that the PDP in Imo State cannot continue recycling a particular politician for its governorship ticket.
Emeka Ihedioha, a one -time Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, had emerged governorship candidate of the PDP twice, in 2015 and 2019 general elections.
Though he was sacked by the Supreme Court on January 14, 2020, as Governor of Imo State and replaced by Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress, APC, he is said to be in charge of the PDP in the state with his loyalists firmly footed in the wards and LGAs.
Ihedioha is believed to be nursing the ambition of returning to Douglas House, Owerri, in 2023, a move which may be resisted by pro Sam Daddy forces who are pushing for their principal to take over the party.
Anyanwu had lost the party’s governorship ticket to Ihedioha, in 2019.
Sources said Anyanwu’s firm alignment with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, seems to yielding fruits as there are considerations that the flawed ward and LG congresses in the party in Imo PDP which favoured Ihedioha, may be cancelled for a fresh exercise.
Anyanwu is known to have the backing of his political godfather, Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, who is a respected leader of the party.
A top party chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that there are fresh plots “to reposition the PDP in Imo State”.
He said “And for such re-positioning to take effect, we need a new face that will fly the flag of the party in the next elections.
“APC is now firmly rooted in the state but it can be dislodged in 2023 if we get a fresh candidate, a home boy such as Senator Anyanwu.
“We cannot continue to recycle a particular face all the time”
But investigations reveal that this may be tough hurdle for Anyanwu to cross, as Ihedioha seems to be deeply rooted in the party with die hard followers and loyalists who are even ready to “go extra mile” for him.
A source in Ihedioha’s camp said “ It will be difficult to displace Ihedioha as leader of Imo PDP. It is not about Sam Daddy It is about one who has the stamina to lead this party again in 2023.
“ That he was governorship candidate I’d the party twice is irrelevant, it is about who can take the PDP to the titanic battle in 2023 against a fierce and rugged APC government who are already showing signs of crumbling the opposition even before the 2023 polls” he said
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