BY GIDEON AGBALAMA
Major opposition party in Imo State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may be in for turbulence, as the seeming ambition of key political actors may crack the party if not carefully managed.
INNONEWS was informed that already, there is a cobweb of intrigues over the governorship and Owerri zone senatorial tickets of the party.
The party’s governorship ticket which many thought would be the exclusive preserve of former governor Emeka Ihedioha may not necessarily be so.
Though time would be a determinant factor since the race for the governorship ticket of the party is expected to effectively kick start in middle of 2023, the outcome of the party’s primary later this year and the general elections in early 2023 will influence a lot in this regard.
However, there are mounting speculations that the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Sam Anyanwu may join the race for the guber ticket of the party for the second time much later.
Prior to his emergence as National Secretary of the PDP, he had in 2019 run for governorship but lost the party’s guber ticket to Ihedioha.
However, his close associates have debunked such speculations on the grounds that Anyanwu and newly elected members of the PDP National Working Committee, NWC are currently busy with the task of repositioning the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
But a top level source in the know of undercurrents in the party told this newspaper that “despite the seeming open embrace and reconciliation between Ihedioha and Anyanwu before and after the national convention of the PDP, there are more the eyes cannot see for now
“It is no hidden fact that Ihedioha openly supported Anyanwu to emerge the party’s National Secretary, but there are certain dynamics which will play out much later to the amazement of all.
This newspaper was informed that Anyanwu is spearheading the entrance of some top members of the All Progressive Congress, APC, into the PDP in Imo State.
Majority of them belong to the camp of former governor Rochas Okorocha, which comprise a former governorship candidate, serving and former state and federal lawmakers.
Anyanwu was present at Okorocha’s Spilbat mansion, Owerri, to sympathize with Uche Nwosu, when he was arrested in controversial circumstances by security operatives attached to Government House, Owerri on December 26, last year.
An Anyanwu loyalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity however said that “the Senator’s moves is highly misinterpreted and misunderstood”
“He is only in the business of “political evangelism”which is aimed at ensuring PDP members who left the party return to its fold.He did not visit Uche Nwosu alone, he also visited Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, another founding member of the party, where he wooed the ex governor to return to his original political family
Another divisive area in the party is the Owerri zone senatorial ticket, which has evoked political tension between two key players in the party.
The entrance into the race of a former federal lawmaker, Uche Onyeagocha, has unsettled the camp of Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, who is said to be seeking a second term as Senator after spending 8 years in the House of Representatives.
Anti Onyewuchii forces are said to be multiplying in the party apparently due to his lack of broad engagement with key stakeholders of the party
Those in his camp camp suspect that the ambition of Onyeagocha, a former Secretary to Imo State Government in Ihedioha’s government, may have the subtle nod of Ihedioha.
Newspaper reports in Owerri had claimed last week that pressure has come on Ihedioha, on Onyewuchi’s behalf, to compel Onyeagocha to rescind his senatorial ambition, a request which looks like a tall order as the activist cum politician has matched on with his ambition, setting the stage for a big political battle which may even consume the party.
UPDATED 8.34AM, 8/2/2022