- A titanic political battle looms in Owerri zone PDP, as two political gladiators in the party eye the zone’s senatorial seat in 2023
Based on the outcome of the 2019 election in Imo State, Owerri zone can be said to be the political backbone of leading opposition political party in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The party had recorded victory in the nine local governments in the zone during the 2019 election. It won the nine House of Assembly seats, four House of Representatives seats, the zones’s senate seat and recorded victory in the governorship election.
After the Supreme Court removed Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as Governor, the PDP still maintained considerable grip of the zone, as majority of it’s members from Owerri zone in the State House of Assembly, refused to decamp to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
But the party may have to work extra hard to maintain its hold of the zone considering the renewed determination of the ruling APC to fully capture the zone in the next polls.And this is dependent on how it manages the political gains it has garnered in the zone ahead of the 2023 elections.
With three years to the next election in the State, there are already emerging signals of conflicting interests and ambitions among some political gladiators in the party, which may erode its chances in the zone if not properly managed.
INNONEWS was informed that the senatorial seat of the zone which is presently occupied by Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, has become attractive to other key players and political actors in the party who have set their sights on the seat.
A source revealed to this newspaper that former Secretary to the State government, Hon.Uche Onyeagocha, is allegedly interested in vying for Owerri Senatorial seat.
Though it has been not confirmed, Onyeagocha, a former member of the House of Representatives, has remained a vocal voice for the party, defending all policies of the past Emeka Ihedioha administration.
Many attest that he has remained Ihedioha’s pillar and backbone after the latter was removed from office by the Supreme Court, thus if he decides to vie for Owerri senatorial seat, he is certainly in order.
However inquiries made by this newspaper to ascertain if Onyeagocha has made up his mind to run for Owerri senate seat were unsuccessful.
“He has not made up his mind on the matter. Such an issue may not be a priority for him for now” a close source to the former SGI told INNONEWS.
Political analysts however contend that if Onyeagocha eventually decides to vie for Owerri senatorial seat, then it will be a battle with Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi who represents Owerri zone in the senate.
Onyewuchi at the moment, is adjudged the highest ranking public office holder in the PDP in Imo State. It is unclear if he will seek for a second term, but his body language gives him away as someone already interested to run for the seat again. If this scenario plays out, then a clash of the titans looms in Owerri zone PDP.
Hon Onyewuchi could not be reached to speak on this matter, but one of his political footsoldiers, who spoke on condition of anonymity said what is paramount on the mind of the senator is to continue to represent Owerri zone effectively in the senate.
“This question is coming too early. 2023 is three years away. We should pray for life first before talking of political ambition, particularly when the next election is three years away. When 2023 comes, the senator will unveil his next move” he said
Reacting to this development, a chieftain of the party in the zone, Mr. Cosmas Anyasodor, said if ongoing speculations that Onyeagocha may square up against Onyewuchi for Owerri senate race is anything to go by, then a monumental political battle is imminent in Owerri zone PDP.
“When two elephants fight the grass suffer. We wait till then and watch. for now, I believe this is mere speculation, though there is iota of truth in every rumour and there is no smoke without fire” he said
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