By Thompson Agu, Abuja
Another political upheaval that will rock the foundation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo state is in the offing, except the out-going Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha is not involved in the yet to be confirmed reports making the rounds about his plot to defect to APC.
Trumpeta gathered in good authority that the PDP governorship candidate may be on the latest transfer list of APC if the season of defection from PDP to APC continues.
Authoritative sources close to Ihedioha in Abuja revealed that the warm relationship the Speaker, and now governor elect of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has with his Deputy, Ihedioha wants to continue after both have left the House. Our correspondent in Abuja who was at the National Assembly to monitor proceedings this week revealed that Ihedioha is under pressure from Tambuwal to join APC and forgo draggning Okorocha to election petitions tribunal.
It was learnt that though Tambuwal had expressed indignation at Ihedioha for not joining him to APC from PDP when we left, the governor-elect of Sokoto state is planning a soft landing for his partner in Green chamber of the National Assembly in APC. Details of the partnership according to the source are anchored on the fact that Tambuwal will use his contacts at the national level of APC to allow the national leadership of the party accommodate Ihedioha’s interest at Abuja.
Further information at the National assembly revealed that despite party differences, Tambuwal and Ihedioha are best of friends us they defied instructions at party level in 2011 to emerge Speaker and Deputy respectively. It was the relationship that made Tambuwal to also, develop interest in Ihedioha’s next political move.
Trumpeta was also informed that Tambuwal had earlier asked Ihedioha to defect to APC and pick House Reps or Senate ticket where he will be made either Speaker or Senator as a ranking legislator.
Besides, the reported visit of the PDP governorship candidate to topflight APC members and President elect in Abuja before the April 25 re-run election was also said to have been midwived and packaged by Tambuwal.
As Ihedioha guber ambition seems to have failed, Tambuwal is also said to be on rescue mission by also inducing Ihedioha to join him in APC. The new turn is fingered as the cause of the delay noticed in the campaign organisation of the Deputy Speaker concerning filing a petition before the election petition tribunal against Okorocha. As at the time of this report, Ihedioha is yet to file a petition challenging Okorocha’s victory.
Trumpeta correspondent was told in Abuja that the intervention of Tambuwal slowed action of Ihedioha’s lawyers who had collected enough evidences to challenge Okorocha’s victory at the tribunal using the alleged fake result Presidential election of Northern States.
The development was also responsible for cautionary measures of a counsel in electoral matters who expressed indifference in taking Ihedioha’s case to the election tribunal. The erudite lawyer expressed reservation that he may not achieve much if report of romance the PDP candidate is having with APC Chieftains are anything to go by.
However, an associate of Ihedioha when contacted in his Abuja office of the National Assembly denied the development adding that it is mere rumour and figment of the reporter’s imagination. The Aide who refused to allow his name in print responded that Ihedioha remains in PDP and cannot leave without getting the mandate rudely snatched away by Okorocha.
“It is a lie, nothing like that happened. Yes, Tambuwal could be Oga’s (Ihedioha’s) friend, but what you are saying is beyond that. Oga (Ihedioha) is a complete man and has no plan to defect”.
