Both the Wadata Plaza Office of the Peoples Democracy Party, PDP and Aso Rock Villa where President Jonathan, national leader of the party resides and dictates the affairs of the country have turned into newest Mecca of party’s governorship aspirants from Imo state.
Following armada of complaints that trailed last weekend’s conduct of delegates’ congresses in all the wards in the 27 LGAs of the state, action has shifted to Abuja for the final showdown.
Unsavoury developments have characterized the exercise where aggrieved persons have petitioned the state office on Okigwe road and Abuja.
However, a fresh development to the unfolding drama reared up again late Monday when news filtered in that one particular aspirant among the pack, (names withheld) has rushed to Abuja to “follow up” the list of delegates for the PDP. it was learnt that after the feast of furry in Imo which almost degenerated to fisticuffs, the particular aspirant said to be desperate departed Owerri immediately to Abuja in company of the Congress Committee sent to conduct the primaries by Abuja arm of the party. As at Tuesday morning, our Abuja correspondent noticed presence of most guber candidates who mingled around the party office and the presidential villa. In the last count, apart form Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha who is a regular person in the nation’s capital, other governorship aspirants like Senator Christy Anyanwu, Rt Hon Bethel Amadi and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume were spotted.
Others who joined suit in the race to Abuja were Barr Humphrey Anumudu, Prof Jude Njoku and Ken Ojii. Apparently not wanting to be shortchanged or be robbed in the final list of delegates, the guber hopefuls emptied in Abuja for the showdown.
The aspirants are not comfortable with the manner some are going about the delegate election hence their movement to Abuja.
Meanwhile, despite the altercations observed in the last ward congresses to select delegates for party primaries, aspirants from Owerri zone moments after the event gathered at the home of one of them to evaluate the exercise.
All the aspirants from Owerri zone were present at the meeting held on Sunday but for Senator Christy Anyanwu who was unavoidably absent.
Though details of the meeting were not made public but an authoritative source revealed that the gathering cannot be divorced from the strategic partnership aspirants from Owerri zone have formed to ensure that the next governor of state will be of Owerri zone extraction. It was learnt that a memorandum of understanding had already been outlined for all the aspirants to work for the common interest of the zone.
Irrespective of the pitfalls that marred the event, the Owerri zone aspirants agreed to work as a team and eschew bad blood capable of denying them chance of producing an eventual winner.
In a related development, the national office of PDP has raised a screening committee for the House of Assembly aspirants. The 5-man committee is headed by High Chief Tering Tseaga as chairman. Other members of the committee are Oscar J. Ayuk, wing commander Wisdom Wolo (rtd), Chief Samfo Nwankwo and Barr Amos Dushu who will serve as committee secretary.
Screening of aspirants is scheduled for today and hearing of the screening Appeals on Monday Nov 10, 2014.
