Determined to emerge victorious at the end of the party primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State Chapter, the governorship aspirants are devising several means to win the war.
Still battling over the outcome of the delegate lists after the conduct of the ward congresses across the 27 LGAs of the state, Trumpeta is informed that a new trend is in vogue for the aspirants. And the new method of winning the primaries is choice of running mates.
Though running mates are made after aspirants had emerged winners of party primaries to become candidates. But the case of Imo appears to be different with aspirants dangling deputy governorship tickets to several political gladiators to win their support.
Trumpeta gathered on good authority that frontline aspirants like Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Ikedi Ohakim Rt Hon Bethel Amadi and others are engaged in political permutation of seeking support through the running mate bate.
It was further learnt from various political camps and campaign organizations of guber aspirants that the outcome of PDP delegates election warranted fresh alignments across borderlines.
This newspaper exclusively learnt that to cross the hurdle and emerge tops, Araraume despite protesting about the conduct of the Nov 1 2014 Ward congresses is making a serious reachout to Owerri zone where it is expected his deputy will come from if he eventually emerges PDP flagbearer. It would be recalled that in 2007 election when Araraume ran under PDP platform in the uneventful election that his party never gave him support, another aspirant Bar Bethel Nzimako, from Owerri West in Owerri zone was the running mate. However, 2015 appears different as Araraume is said to be looking toward Ikeduru LGA though in the same Owerri zone.
A top notcher of the PDP and vital political king maker of the council is believed to be working in partnership with the Okigwe zone former Senator.
There are insinuations in various quarters that Araraume may want the votes of Ikeduru by hooking the wife of the National leader and progenitor of the Owerri zonal political form, OZOPOLF, Prince Charles Amadi (Charlvon), Princes Yvonne Charles Amadi. Though, this newspaper is yet to officially confirm the development but sources revealed that considering the influence and political weight of Charlvon through his OZOPOLF structure that cuts across the nine councils of Owerri, he is one of the most sought after, hence his wife tipped as possible deputy to Araraume for 2015 election.
That decision, it was noted may have displaced an astute henchman of Araraume, Okenze Sylvester Obinnna from Ngor Okpala said to be a close ally of the Senator expected to have merited the position.
A source close to the campaign team of Araraume commenting on the matter revealed that the choice of Princes Amadi, apart from its gender sensitive gains is a ploy to woo the formidable OZOPOLF machine into the political structure of the two-time Senator and endorse his candidature.
Another frontline governorship aspirant of PDP said to be using the running mate bargain to win more support ahead the party primaries is the camp of Ihedioha. Having become an endangered specie among the pack of aspirants considering the volumes of attack targeted at his person, those close to the Deputy Speaker revealed that the available option to make amends and not only consolidate but win more support is choice of running mate. Though, the camps is said to be tactical and not willing to make or pronounce publicly the would- be, but the competent sources offered that the choice of a possible running mate would be tactical for the task ahead.
It was learnt that Ihedioha who is from Owerri zone is heading to Orlu zone to pick a deputy should he whether the storm and emerge PDP governorship candidate. Ihedioah campaign sources revealed that the member representing Ngor/Okpala/Aboh Federal Constituency is in a tight corner for the choice but may do the needful to make his dream come true. Ihedioha is said to be in a fix picking from the camp of the Senator representing the zone, Chief Hope Uzodimma and that of former governor, Chief Achike Udenwa.
Trumpeta learnt that Ihedioha has been in the good books of those in Udenwa’s camp until recently he closed ranks with that of Uzodimm.
To be on a safe side, Ihedioha was said to have made a volte face to give each of the camps equal attention and treatment. Trumpeta learnt that having gathered a reasonable chunk of the delegates from Owerri zone expected to decide who is PDP candidates for the 2015 election, the Deputy Speaker is dangling the running mate can not to the Uzodimma group believed to be incharge of the Orlu zone delegates. At the end of the primaries, Trumpeta was informed that majority of the delegates from the 12 LGAs of Orlu zone are Uzodimma’s product and will likely determine who among the aspirants will be the governorship candidate.
To sail through, the Ihedioha campaign team, known as project 2015, is said to have opened negotiations with the Uzodimma group to form a powerful synergy. Though names have not been made public but strong allies of the Senator like Hon Mrs Oyibo Nwaneri, a former lawmaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and one time PDP woman leader, the Vice Chairman of PDP, Orlu zone, Chief Greg Madu, Speaker Emeritus of Imo Assembly, Rt Hon Goodluck Nanah Opiah and Chief Peter Mgbenwelu, are considered appropriate.
Another source from the Ihedioha team dismissed the report stating that the Deputy Speaker is yet to say anything in that. For now, we are working towards the primaries than be disturbed by unwarranted distractions like the issue of Deputy Governor or running mate” he added.
Ohakim is another aspirant said to be exploring the running mate actor to shore up his chances. Several are said to have been lined up for the position. Some guber aspirants from Owerri may have been approached to surrender their ambition and join the Bring Back Ikedi Ohakim crusade and be considered deputy governorship candidate.
Efforts to reach Ohakim was impossible but a reliable source was of the opinion that nothing is impossible in party politics especially now the primaries to select candidates are coming up in few weeks time.
