There are strong indications that followers of former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Orlu zone, Rochas Okorocha, are inching close for a possible deal with leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Though nothing concrete is in the offing, there are feelers that the camp of the former governor has made “contact” with the leaders of the PDP over a possible move, with Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the arrow head of the possible move.
Wike is allegedly leading an onslaught against his former political godson and PDP national Chairman, Uche Secondus.
The resignation of seven national officers of the party is said to be part of a grand design to oust Secondus as PDP national Chairman before the party’s national convention.
Wike is said to be building strong political allies across the country, as part of his game plan to be Vice Presidential candidate to a Northern Presidential candidate of the party , with Okorocha alleged to be his arrow head in the South East, as the latter may have shelved his presidential ambition for a second stint at the senate.
However, Okorocha’s son in law, and 2019 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, Uche Nwosu had denied any plan to dump the APC for the PDP.
Nwosu was silent on the next political moves of his father in law, Okorocha.
In a statement on Sunday signed by Nwadike Chikezie,media aide to the former Chief of Staff, he said Nwosu is a founding member of the APC and has no intentions to move over to the PDP.
“It is on record that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is one of the most loyal members of APC whose love for the party is unparallel” part of the statement stated.
Members of Okorocha’s Camp had boycotted the APC ward Congress held last week.
They also kept away from the party’s membership and revalidation exercise, which further swelled speculations that the former governor and his followers are done with the APC.
Plans by the APC leadership to reconcile Okorocha and Governor Hope Uzodimma, may have also hit the rocks, as sources privy to the move said the “party is seriously occupied with more thorny issues and do not have the luxury of time to embark on such mission when those involved are not ready for compromise or shift grounds”
A source in Okorocha’s Camp told INNONEWS that though the Senator is a founding member of the APC, it does not entail he cannot move to another political party if the need arises.
“That he founded the APC is immaterial at this time. What is key now is political relevance. We are exhausting all options open to us, and this does not foreclose any move to another political party” he said.
Top leaders of the PDP in Imo State, refused to speak on Okorocha’s possible defection to the PDP, but a newspaper report quoted a party source saying that the former governor has made some requests which may facilitate his move to the opposition party sooner or later.
INNONEWS could not ascertain the authenticity of these claims as at the time of writing this report.
This newspaper had last week, reported how Okorocha, his ally, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume would “co exist’ with adjudged leader of the party in the State and former governor, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, in the event Okorocha and co defect to the PDP.
