The absence of former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, at the flag-off of the campaign of Imo PDP governorship candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, is raising dust in the party barely a few weeks before the governorship election.
Ihedioha, among other top leaders of the party, such as former Governor Achike Udenwa, and members of the House of Representatives, such as Ikenga Ugochinyere, were absent at the flag-off held at the Nwankwo Kanu Stadium in Owerri.
Ihedioha’s absence had sparked some controversy, as reports emerged that prior to the flag-off, he was persuaded to attend the event by key leaders of the party in the South East.
Ihedioha’s camp has yet to issue a statement to explain why the former deputy speaker shunned the PDP flag off, but this newspaper gathered that it is a signal that the political rift between him and Anyanwu, which began a long time ago, has continued to fester.
Ihedioha had quit the PDP governorship race on the basis that Anyanwu had undue advantage by contesting the party’s governorship primary while holding the position of National Secretary.
He was said to have complained to the party hierarchy on the basis that Anyanwu cannot be an umpire in a contest; he is a contestant.
His plea apparently fell on deaf ears, which prompted him to withdraw from the contest.
This paved the way for Anyanwu to be a sole contender for the governorship ticket, which he won.
After the governorship primary, Ihedioha stayed away from all events and activities pertaining to the party in Imo State.
His loyalists have maintained distance from Anyanwu’s camp, with some pitching tenth with the All Progressives Congress (APC) or choosing to stay politically afloat.
Last week, the Board of Trustees Chairman of the PDP, Adolphus Wabara, aligned with Ihedioha’s posture by urging Anyanwu to resign as National Secretary of the PDP on the basis that he cannot be the party’s scribe and governorship candidate.
A source in the party said, “Ihedioha and his allies deliberately shied away from the flag off to send signals to the party leadership at all levels that the soul of the PDP in Imo State is in the grip of the former governor.”
“All party top heads in the state did not show up for the flag-off. It is not a coincidence. It was deliberate.
“Members of the House of Representatives, including other stakeholders such as former deputy governor Gerald Irona, Chuma Nnaji, Peter Mgbenwelu, and many others, were not present.
“The PDP is going into this governorship race in a divided house, and it is not in the interest of the party,” he said.