Investigations by this blog reveal that Imo PDP do have over 19 aspirants, mainly from Owerri Zone(Imo East Senatorial District).
Owerri Zone has cried foul, alleging that since the creation of Imo State, the zone produced Evan Enwerem of blessed memory who governed the State for 22 months unlike Okigwe Zone (Imo West) and Orlu Zone (Imo North) who have produced governors of the State for 12 years plus and 8 years respectively.
Incumbent Governor Rochas Okorocha is from Orlu Zone and if he wins the 2015 governorship race, he will be spending 16 years on the saddle as Governor.
This development prompted the alarming rate governorship aspirants from Owerri Zone are jumping into the race with the likelihood that more will join the contest before the PDP primaries.
This has become worrisome to leaders and stakeholders of the zone who fear that too many aspirants from the zone reduce the chances of the zone clinching the governorship of the State.
At the weekend, this blog stumbled on reports that some aspirants from Owerri Federal Constituency such as Former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Barrister Ken Njemanze (SAN), International business mogul, Ken Ojiri and other aspirants met at the country home of Chris Asoluka.
Asoluka is a senatorial aspirant on the PDP platform and was once a member of the Federal House of Representatives.
The meeting was said to have focused on strategies to ensure that one of the aspirants from the area win the PDP ticket and finally move on to the governorship race.
Similar nocturnal meetings were also said to have been convened by aspirants of Mbaise stock in the Zone, though details remain shrouded in secrecy.
Mbaise at the moment parades the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and Senator Chris Anyanwu as leading contenders for the Imo governorship seat from the area.
The thinking among these political gladiators is to fortify their aspirations and ensure that one of them eventually clinch the PDP ticket.
It was unclear as at press time what were decisions taken to harmonize the divergent interests of the aspirants.
It was gathered that such meetings were applauded in some circles; though it was punctured by analysts on the basis that in a race propelled by personal considerations of the aspirants, it will be difficult to harmonize a common position.
The Mbaike clan, a powerful political bloc in Owerri Zone is also said to be considering producing a “consensus" candidate for the area.
Mbaike is the home of PDP Board of Trustees member, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu. He wields so much political influence in the area. But the galaxy of governorship aspirants from the sub zone, such as Hon. Bethel Amadi, President Pan Africa Parliament, business mogul, Humphrey Anumudu, may make it too hot for the PDP chieftain to zero on one candidate to drive the political interest of the area.
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