CHIDIEBUBE OKEOMA writes on the sharp factions in Imo PDP because of the governorship ambitions of Emeka Ihedioha and the national secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, and what the infighting portends for the party in the 2023 elections. Excerpts
The governorship ambitions of the immediate governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha and the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu ( Samdaddy) has unsettled PDP in the state.
Ihedioha and Samdaddy OkeomaNews gathered have purchased the nomination and the expression of interest forms for the PDP governorship primary in the state which will take place sometime in March.
The two politicians since it became glaring that they are interested in the party’s governorship ticket have continued to undo the other, politically.
Their ambitions have created sharp factions in Imo PDP leading to infighting and full blown exchange of punches.
For example, the two factions had in 2022 exchange punches at the state secretariat of party over the PDP Presidential Campaign Council list for the state.
Samdaddy’s camp accused Ihedioha and his men of hijacking the list, leading to the dissolution of the list.
The list was later reconstituted with Samdaddy’s men getting plum positions.
While Ihedioha pursues his governorship ambition with his Rebuild Imo structure, Samdaddy has reconstituted his Divine Mandate political structure with a former lawmaker, Ngozi Ogbu as the Director General and top businessman, Myke Ikoku, as the engine room.
The duo’s governorship ambitions have denied PDP the Imo West senatorial district ticket and the Aboh Mbaise/ Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency ticket, respectively.
While Ihedioha has been accused of engineering the nullification of Jones Onyereri’s Imo west senatorial ticket because he is in Samdaddy’s camp, an accusation the ex governor has denied, the national secretary has been accused equally of championing the sacking of Albert Agulanna in Aboh Mbaise/ Ngor Okpala federal constituency because he was produced by Ihedioha’s political family.
OkeomaNews also gathered that party chieftains now attend party meetings based on who is facilitating it.
A source who confided in OkeomaNews said ” the infighting in party in Imo State is getting out of hand. Samdaddy and Ihedioha are fighting to finish. Their governorship ambitions are tearing our party apart.
“Party members who are loyal to Ihedioha do not attend meetings facilitated by a Samdaddy’s ally. The reverse is also the case as those who are loyal to Samdaddy do not attend meetings organised by Ihedioha’s people.
” The state working committee members are not also helping the situation as they have made it very clear that they are for Ihedioha because he hand picked them into offices. They are very partisan as they have continued to frustrate Samdaddy and his men in the party.
” For Samdaddy’s men, it is a survival battle. If they don’t fight they will be expelled from the party after the election or should Ihedioha pick the party ticket, the same way he fought to expel Samdaddy from the party few years ago.
Another source said ” Samdaddy wants to reap from where he did not sow. He abandoned the party and worked for APC until Ihedioha was removed as the governor. He emerged the national secretary from Port Harcourt and now thinks he can dissolve the state Work Committee and we said no to him.
” Ihedioha is a true party man. He has been standing by the party and has built it to an enviable height it is today. The best we can do to say thank you to him is to elect him the governorship candidate of the party. Moreover, he is the only person who has state spread and that can easily defeat Hope Uzodimma in the November 11 Imo State governorship election.”
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the party in the state, Collins Opuruozor, said that everything that seems unreasonable would be resolved before the elections and the party would win the election.
Opuruozor, said that PDP in the state is the party to beat, adding that Ihedioha and Samdaddy are stakeholders of the party who understand that the party is supreme.
