By Thompson Agu, Abuja
The dust raised by the PDP ward delegates congresses held across the 27 LGAs of Imo State a fortnight ago to select the three-man adhoc delegates for the party primaries is yet to settle as aggrieved aspirants are unrelenting in their quest to get a reprieve.
Altercations and complaints have continued to trail the exercise leading to some aspirants wiring petitions to the national and state offices of the party with several allegations concerning the conduct of the ward congresses to select delegates.
Despite petitioning the national secretariat of the party in Abuja to express their misgivings about the November 1, 2014 Delegates elections in all the wards in the state, Trumpeta was informed that some of the protesting aspirants seeking the PDP’s flag to run for number one position have taken the battle further by reporting their case to the presidency and said to have requested President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene by picking a consensus candidate among them other than Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
It would be recalled that a frontline aspirant, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume joined by the likes of Dr. Bethel Amadi, Dr. Charles Amanze, Senator Christy Anyanwu, Prof Jude Njoku, Senator Bright Nwanne, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) and Hon. Charles Onyeagbako had petitioned the party and even accused the Appeal Committee handling Imo PDP Delegate election of bias.
Our correspondent in Abuja learnt that the disappointed group who suspects the national office of possible compromise has also moved into Aso Rock, Abuja, Trumpeta newspaper reporter who was at the Presidential Villa spotted few of the troubled aspirants making inroads into President Jonathan’s men and “inner caucus” members of the PDP in the Villa. Some of the influential aspirants milled around a strategic office in the Villa where issues of political relevance are tabled and discussed.
Further inquiries of the newspaper over the presence of the aspirants (names withheld) indicate that their mission has to do with the outcome of PDP delegates election in Imo which appeared unfavorable to them.
It was however gathered that apart from seeking for presidency’s intervention, the arrowheads who are enjoying the backing of other aggrieved aspirants want Aso Rock to anoint and support a candidate amongst them against a leading governorship aspirant in the state and Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha.
In their earlier petitions, Ihedioha was accused of allegedly hijacking the process which the Deputy Speaker has in response denied, adding that the petition and actions against him so far are mere of wolf cry as nothing of such happened.
While seeking the attention of the Presidency, the aggrieved aspirants are reported to been having meeting for the possibility of agreeing among themselves for a consensus candidate that will be presented to Mr President for adoption and presentation to Imo PDP faithful to be backed as party’s flagbearer.
The plot is to rubbish the chances of Ihedioha, who it was believed had upper hand in the delegates election and likely to emerge tops should the outcome of the ward congresses are applied for party primaries.
Interestingly, the aggrieved guber aspirants are also said to be employing all destructive machinery within their arsenal to withle down Ihedioha. The present quagmire in the House of Reps over Tambuwal’s defection and the alleged affinity the Deputy Speaker shared in the past with APC Presidential hopeful, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as part of the negative weapons to be sold to the Presidency men to ensure Presidency works against Ihedioha’s interest and backs another person from their group as favourite PDP candidate.
An aide to one of the aspirants who was spotted in Aso Rock confirmed the move to use the Presidency to stop Ihedioha when he stated that “my principal working in alliance with other governorship aspirants are meeting and have even met with the Presidency to stop Emeka (Ihedioha). They are not stopping at that. Also, meetings are geared towards having a particular aspirant as consensus candidate to be endorsed by all and forwarded to Jonathan as the best choice than Emeka (Ihedioha). You will see how it will work out”, the source summed up.
However, the camp of Ihedioha seems unperturbed about the development as the report has been branded as handiwork of bad losers and suspected sponsored agents acting as mercenaries for other parties in PDP.
Though the Chief Press Secretary to Ihedioha, was not forthcoming on the issue as checks in Abuja office of the Deputy Speaker was ineffective, but a legislative aide who does not want his name in print because he was no authorized to speak opined that those antagonizing Ihedioha are fighting a lost battle, stating that their plans will not see the light of the day.
Similarly, at the home front, the Campaign organization of Emeka Ihedioha has reacted to the allegations of hijack of PDP congress in Imo. According to a statement by Chief Chris Okewulonu, the Director General exonerated Ihedioha in any alleged manipulation of the conduct of Nov 1, 2014 Ward Congress in Imo State insisting that contrary to insinuations and unfounded reports, the Deputy Speaker restricted himself to his LGA where he observed distribution of electoral materials and his local political ward where he cast his vote for the Delegation candidate of his choice.
While dismissing the claims and adversaries of other PDP aspirants kicking against Ihedioha, the campaign DG claimed that their candidate is better prepared with solid programmes and policies to affect positively, socio, economic and political well being of Imo State and calpable of wresting power from APC in the state.
