Fireworks In Imo PDP Over Ihedioha, Uzodinma Governorship Ambition (The Untold Story)

Ihedioha(m), Uzodinma(L)

The PDP in Imo State is sharply divided over the aspiration of two top contenders for the party’s governorship ticket.

Though primaries to elect a governorship flag-bearer are still under wraps, the ambition of the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and Senator Representing Imo North (Orlu Zone), Senator Hope Uzodinma has sharply polarized stakeholders in the party and put party elders and leaders on the edge of their seats.

 Though Senator Hope Uzodinma is yet to publicly declare for the governorship contest on the PDP platform, his aspiration has rankled the nerves of  key players in the party especially those from Owerri Zone.

Owerri Zone is the political home-base of the Deputy Speaker and over 16 governorship aspirants who are in the race on the grounds that it is the turn of the zone to produce the next governor of Imo State.

Top players of the PDP in the zone and beyond especially party elders and leaders are on the side of the Deputy Speaker who has successfully erected an intimidating political structure across the State to fire his aspiration on all cylinders.

Ihedioha is currently on a tour to the 27 local Government Areas of Imo State where he has gone to revive the hopes of despondent members of the party who have been in political limbo since the PDP crumbled in the 2011 elections. The tour, according to sources close to him, is “introduce his ambition to party members and return back to them when the whistle for campaigns are blown”

But Uzodinma’s perceived ambition seem to be a thorn in the flesh in the camp of Ihedioha and other aspirants in Owerri Zone who fault his aspiration on the basis that his geo political Zone – Orlu – should not dream of having the governorship seat again.

Uzodinma is said to have vast contacts within the PDP leadership in the State and in Abuja who are said to be propelling him to contest for the party’s governorship ticket.

  A reliable party source told This Blog  “The party leadership in Abuja is deeply concerned on how to recover APC controlled States for the party, thus they are willing to do away with some political considerations. What they want is results and they are ready to back candidates who have the nerve to dismantle APC stronghold in Imo and other States. And I think the players see that in Hope Uzodinma. This is just the thinking of some party leaders because the Mu' Azu led PDP is not disposed towards imposing anyone"

This Blog gathered that Senator Uzodinma is basking on the fact that the party in Abuja gave him some concessions at a time the Deputy Speaker was hobnobbing with his boss, the Speaker, Hon Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal who is known to have strong links with the opposition, APC. 

 A party source said “Before he could untangle himself and restore confidence among party leaders in Abuja that he is a  core PDP,  Hope has covered lost grounds” 

 It was learnt that the chummy- chummy relationship between senator Uzodinma and Wadata plaza prompted the party leadership to entrust on him the task of securing victory for the PDP in the Oguta  re- run election which was inconclusive.

Those opposed to Uzodinma’s aspiration said he failed the party by failing to deliver Oguta to the PDP in contrast to the fact that the Deputy Speaker successfully delivered Ahiazu Mbaise Federal constituency to the party when there was a run polls in the area.Pro Ihedioha loyalists said Okorocha would have overun the PDP if not for the timely intervention of the Deputy Speaker.

It was learnt that before Uzodinma’s associates announced his ambition, some of the governorship aspirants in Owerri Zone went to him for support and political succor until he made a sudden u- turn and declared to contest. 

There are also reports that some of the aspirants in Owerri Zone  simply declared for the governorship contest on the prompting of the senator in order to weaken the support base of the Deputy Speaker in Owerri Zone.

 And as a counter measure, PDP eggheads in Owerri Zone led by General Rowland Ogbonna (Rtd) recently convened   an emergency meeting of PDP stakeholders in Owerri where they insisted that Imo Governorship of Owerri Zone extraction on the PDP platform is not negotiable.

Analysts say that the ongoing fireworks from party loyalists loyal to Uzodinma and Ihedioha stem from the fact they have benefited immensely from the two political heavyweights.

This Blog observed that local tabloids in the State are awash with disparaging articles and write ups mainly sponsored by the two camps against each other.

 A source said the Ihedioha group has an army of loyalists who are ready to lay down their lives for his aspiration because of political goodies the have benefited from him.

A  PDP chieftain in the State who spoke to this blog on condition of anonymity said “ The fireworks between the Ihedioha and Uzodinma camps  is clearly  understood. They are merely displaying their allegiance and political alignments. For instance, some of those in Ihedioha’s camp benefited from appointments, especially federal appointments which he single handedly gave to them. The same for those in Uzodinma’s camp.