*Stakeholders Seek Direction In The Wake Of Internal Strife And Leadership Challenges
In the aftermath of the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finds itself in a state of disarray, leaving stakeholders and members grappling with confusion over the party’s trajectory.
The resounding defeat at the polls, where the PDP candidate trailed far behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Hope Uzodimma, has brought about an unsettling silence within the party.
The figurehead of this silence is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the PDP’s governorship candidate, who, despite the party’s defeat, has yet to address party stakeholders and members.
Anyanwu had promptly rejected the election outcome, leveling accusations against the APC, security agencies, and INEC, alleging collusion to manipulate the results in favour of Uzodimma.
In a joint press conference held in Owerri with his Labour Party counterpart two days after the guber election, Anyanwu expressed his disappointment, stating, “I am ashamed of the outcome of the election. We thought INEC would use the governorship election in Imo State to correct its mistakes in the last election, but it was not so.”
However, he has not disclosed whether he plans to challenge the election outcome in court, unlike his LP counterpart, Senator Achonu, who has vowed to contest the results and had led a protest to INEC headquarters in Owerri.
This conspicuous silence and lack of a decisive stance from Senator Anyanwu have raised concerns among party chieftains in the State.
Some have openly expressed their apprehension about the party’s apparent lack of direction, especially in the absence of a post-election stakeholders meeting to chart the way forward.
A party chieftain from Owerri North, who spoke to INNONEWS anonymously, remarked, “The party seems to be lacking direction.We had expected a stakeholders meeting to be convened at the behest of our candidate to discuss the way forward for the party after such a disastrous outing at the polls.”
Despite assurances from Senator Anyanwu that he would soon address party chieftains and supporters, close to one month after the election, nothing substantial has taken place.
The perceived delay in communication has left party members anxious and uncertain about the future of the PDP in Imo State.
Adding complexity to the situation, Anyanwu had been entangled in internal party strife before the elections, facing a plot to remove him as the National Secretary of the party.
This internal power struggle has not only distracted him but also contributed to polarization within the party at the national level, creating divisions among governors and major stakeholders.
A chieftain of the party in the State, Amos Igwekala, said there is need to seek for direction, stating that aside losing the guber polls, “there is something to cheer about, with the party’s victory at the Appeal Court, which sacked the APC Aboh Mbaise House of Assembly member and reinstated our candidate as the rightful winner of the Assembly polls”
He added “The quest for direction becomes paramount. The absence of a clear strategy and unified communication raises questions about the party’s resilience and ability to regroup after a significant electoral setback.
“In the midst of political intrigue and internal challenges, the PDP in Imo State must find a way to restore cohesion and inspire confidence among its members” he stated.