Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are weighing the nitty gritty of the demands, allegedly tendered before the party by followers of former governor of Imo State and Senator Representing Orlu Zone, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
In the last two weeks, the media has been awash with reports of possible entrance into the PDP from the APC, followers of the former Imo State Governor.
Top level sources in the PDP in Imo State confirmed that “contact” has been established between the camp of the former governor and party leaders.
According to them, some demands were made by the Senator.
A chieftain of the party who spoke on condition of anonymity told INNONEWS that Okorocha/PDP ongoing talks can be likened to “a case of a top striker on the verge of signing for a new club with contract details already formalized, while the player is undergoing medicals before joining the new club”
Part of the demands tabled before the PDP by the camp of the former governor include: the running mate slot to the governorship candidate of the party in 2023, “re tooling” the executives of the PDP from the ward to the State levels, to acomodate those from the ex governor’s camp, automatic tickets for serving House of Reps members from the ex governor’s camp, Senatorial ticket of the party for Orlu Senatorial zone and other demands.
PDP leaders are said to be weighing the demands.
A PDP governor from the South South is allegedly spearheading the move for Okorocha’s men.
Another governor from the North may be drafted in, though this newspaper could not verify this piece of information.
Another source said the demands would have been given accelerated consideration, if the South South governor was not “distracted” by his unsucessful plot to oust the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus.
Majority of followers of the former governor confirmed the talks, though they contend that they have not been “fully” briefed on the matter.
“The move to another party is a work in progress” said a former state lawmaker sympathetic to the Okorocha camp.
Former Governor Rochas Okorocha, his ally, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, who is also expected to be part of the move to the PDP and their thousands of loyalists, had boycotted the APC membership and revalidation exercise.
They did not also participate in the just concluded ward congress of the APC, swelling speculations that they may have concluded plans to join the PDP.