BY EXCEL CHIMA
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| Senator Uzodinma |
The group from indications appears to be losing the battle to take control of the party structure in Imo State following the failure of the party leadership in Abuja to knock off the caretaker committee already in place in Imo PDP.
With Congress fast approaching, there are clear indications that the Peace and Reconciliation Committee led by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, that mediated in the crisis tearing the party apart in Imo State in Abuja, is concerned on ensuring that all factions are made happy and remain in the party.
The party’s national chairman, Ali Modu Sherrif had also voiced out at the meeting his readiness to ensure that all aggrieved factions sheath their swords and fight for the victory of the PDP in the forthcoming Imo North Senatorial re run election and other subsequent elections in Imo State.
Senator Hope Uzodinma group is alleged to be opposed to the composition of a caretaker committee for Imo PDP. The committee is mainly made up of political foot soldiers loyal to Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, a former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and 2015 Imo State PDP governorship candidate.
Both Ihedioha and Uzodinma are said to be eying the party’s governorship ticket in 2019. Their quest to take control of the party leadership at all strata is said to be fueling the ongoing crisis in the party.
The senator's group is also alleged to be the propelling force pushing for the reinstatement of the State executives led by Barr Nnamdi Anayehie which had dragged the Caretaker committee to court on the basis that the tenure of the State executives is yet to expire.
At the Abuja meeting, the caretaker committee was told to remain by the national chairman but no word was heard from the Seriake Peace Committee instructing the ousted party executives to withdraw the matter against the caretaker committee in court.
Though Uzodinma and other PDP leaders such as former Governors Achike Udenwa, Ikedi Ohakim,
Senators Samuel Anyanwu and Athan Achonu , including former Minister, Kema Chikwe and other leaders made inputs in the caretaker committee by recommending their loyalists as members, there are indications that most of the leaders are not favourably disposed to have a governorship candidate of the party from Imo West Senatorial Zone (Orlu) where the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha comes from.
Senator Uzodinma currently represents Imo West in the Senate.
Imo West has produced the Imo State governor twice, former Governor Achike Udenwa who ruled for eight years on the PDP platform between 1999-2007 and Rochas Okorocha (APC) who will complete another eight years by 2019.
One of the Imo PDP leaders who took part in the Abuja peace meeting confirmed to this online newspaper that “there is serious consciousness on the part of the party leadership to pacify and calm the Uzodinma camp.
He said “Because from all indications, the group may have lost out in the entire chess game. We know they are waiting for congress to see if those they will field for key positions in the executives of the State will scale through”
“But what happens if they don’t succeed.. That will be another big headache for the PDP in Imo State. How does the party manage the outcome of the congress? How will they be pacified? We have been hearing rumours of a secret deal of some of our members with Okorocha's APC if they loose out in Imo PDP.
“We cannot afford to lose a big shot like the distinguished senator Hope Uzodinma and his army of supporters because they have done a lot to stabilize the party in Imo State” he stated.
As part of the measures to avoid a break up in the party that may lead to defections to the All Progressive Congress, APC, the Governor Seriake Committee has promised to hold another leadership meeting in Owerri after the congress.
A source in the party told this newspaper that the meeting was to be held before the congress, but was tactically shifted further to "manage the likely aggression and resentment from those who may eventually loose out from the politics of the congress.
"Some may want to leave the party after the congress and this is why the peace committee may come to Owerri after the congress to manage the after effect”
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