BY ADANNA CHIEGE
There is confusion in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over speculations that the party in Imo State, may concede automatic tickets to decampees from the All Progressives Congress, APC in the State.
INNONEWS, an online newspaper, had exclusively reported that some allies and followers of former Governor Rochas Okorocha, who are in the House of Representatives, have secretly purchased PDP Nomination and Expression Of Interest Forms.
Emerging reports further indicate that the PDP in the State may have entered into an agreement with the APC decamping lawmakers. Part of the agreement is automatic tickets for the incoming decampees.
Though none of the federal lawmakers in the APC in the State, have officially joined the PDP, a party source said the “lawmakers and other allies of former Governor Okorocha would decamp from the APC to the PDP in a matter of days”
However, since news of Okorocha’s men secretly obtaining PDP Nomination Forms was exclusively reported by INNONEWS, it has unsettled some PDP chieftains in the State, particularly aspirants in the party, who are eying the same federal legislative seats with the incoming APC decampees.
“We have nothing against anyone joining the PDP in Imo State. It is a welcome development, but an automatic ticket for APC decampees is not acceptable. All aspirants should go for primaries. Let party members and delegates decide whom their choice of candidate will be” said a top PDP chieftain who is eying an elective position in the party.
Top party officials in the State however denied knowledge of such “agreement”, but stated “any one is free to join the PDP”
Former Governor Rochas Okorocha, who represents Imo West Senatorial Zone, in the Senate, has been entangled in fierce altercations with Governor Hope Uzodimma, over who takes control and charge of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Imo State.
With Uzodimma having the upper hand in the feud- taking control of the party in the State- thus shutting out Okorocha and his allies- majority of the former Governor’s loyalists, foot-soldiers and allies, including those holding elective positions at the Federal and State levels, have resorted to seeking alternative political platforms, such as the PDP, to seek re- election.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s son, Godwin, had recently dumped the APC for the PDP.
Senator Araraume is an ally of Senator Okorocha.
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