After weeks of Political Horse tradings and maneuverings Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie emerged last Saturday the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Imo chapter concensus chairman, to succeed Bar Eze Duruiheoma SAN, who has been cleared to take over as the chairman of National Population Commission NPC, from yet another Imo son, Chief Festus Odimegwu.
Anyaehie, against all political permutations became the Imo PDP chairman, flooring more experienced politicians from Orlu zone, earlier tipped to win the coveted position.
However, the emergence of Chief Ugochukwu Nnawuihe as the new Vice Chairman of the party has elicited angry reactions from top PDP members of Owerri zone extraction, who kicked against how Nnawuihe was foisted on the party without wide consultations from the area where the Vice chairmanship position was zoned.
Anyaehie’s emergence shocked many who had tipped more experienced candidates to come out tops.
They include Nze I.M.O Umunna, Dr Jeff Ojinika, Barr Rex Anunobi, Chief Boni Ebili, Bar COC Akaolisa, just to mention a few.
However, the powers that be zeroed in on Anyaehie following last minute lobbying and calculations which favoured the youthful politician from Nkwerre LGA.
Although before now Anyaehie had no party administration experience, those who foisted him on the party say he has to learn on the job because others who occupied the office previously had no such experiences.
Immediately after the announcement of Eze Duruiheoma as the population commission new henchman, the race to replace him began in earnest.
However, the battle was limited to Orlu zone, where the position was zoned, following PDP zoning formula.
As the highest elected political officer from the zone, the lot fell of the table of Senator Hope Uzodimma to engineer who replaces Duruiheoma. Therefore, in the last two months, Uzodimma’s homes both at Omuma in Orlu East LGA, and Abuja turned to a Mecca to the plethora of aspirants jostling for the plum job.
Earlier, the thinking was that Senator Uzodimma may elevate his good friend and Orlu zonal chairman of PDP, Chief Osita Nwaneri to the exalted position.
But due to stories of age, Uzodimma shifted his search light to the younger elements.
And Chief Bar COC Akaolisa, the state Legal Adviser of the party came into the radar, but he was accused of being to straight and “hard” therefore cannot be controlled, even though he is a Hope Uzodimma loyalist.
At this juncture the name of Dr Jeff Ojinika cropped up, but he was accused of having many “good fathers” and may have dual loyalty, which did not go down well with the Orlu power Block, led by Uzodimma
Chief Boni Ebili and Bar Rex Anunobi were good candidates but were seen as being too amiable to Uzodimma and therefore may turn to lame Ducks in the hands of the Senator, and therefore were resisted from other PDP forces outside Orlu zone.
The dice nearly fell on former Secretary to Imo State Government, Nze Ignatius Umunna, but fierce resistance from those who felt he was advanced in age denied him of the chance, coupled with the accusation that he is too loyal to Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, and lately to Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha.
Therefore, following extensive consultations from Senator Hope Uzodimma, he was able to convince all elected officers from Orlu zone, right from the House of Assembly members to the past LGA chairmen (still recognized by PDP) to sign a document supporting the emergence of Anyaehie. Even the entire Orlu zonal PDP Executive signed the document, except COC Akaolisa who was also in the race.
However, following intensive convictions and appeals to Akolisa, the state Legal Adviser caved in and signed with the reason that he can not renege the document when the entire Orlu zone had endorsed it. And that was how Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie emerged as the Imo PDP new Chairman, on Acting capacity, since President Jonathan is yet to inaugurate Eze Duruiheoma as the Chairman of NPC.
Meanwhile, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Dr (Mrs) Kema Chikwe (both members of PDP BOT) and Hon Mrs Pat Ekeji, Minority leader Imo House of Assembly have kicked against the emergence of Chief Ugochukwu Nnawuihe as the vice Chairman of the PDP, a slot zoned to Owerri.
They were said to have made their feelings known through a letter to the South East zone of the PDP led by Col Austin Akobundu.
They said Nnawuihe’s emergence came to them as a surprise, which looks like an insult to Owerri zone, since their leaders did not endorse the exercise.
Following this development, Nnawuihe’s position is shaky as Akobundu had acknowledged that there is no way a letter signed by such leaders from Owerri zone could be ignored.
Sources said that it was Senator Uzodimma who master-minded Nnawuihe’s emergence to the detriment of Ihedioha Chikwe, Chief Iwuanyanwu and other Owerri leaders.
Trumpeta learnt that there is no plan to remove the position from Mbaitoli LGA, as General Chikwe Rtd has been tipped to assume the position.
But the problem now is the agitation from PDP members from Owerri zone that Retired military Generals are gradually taking over the party leadership in the zone, with General Rowland Ogbonna already the zonal chairman, and now General Chikwe tipped to be the state Vice chairman.
