By Innocent Onyeukwu
Former Minister of Interior, Capt Emmanuel Ihenacho (Retd) has denied that he has plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another political platform in his quest to actualize his much rumoured governorship intention in Imo State in 2015.
Reliable sources had told Imo Trumpeta that Ihenacho may be loosing the battle to pick the PDP governorship nomination ticket in Imo State as a result of fierce and persistent opposition from the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha. Ihedioha is alleged to be eying the Imo governorship seat in 2015.
The calculations in Iheanacho’s camp are that the Deputy Speaker appears to be enjoying a sizzling political romance with the top echelon of the PDP in Abuja who may have identified him as a formidable candidate to wrestle power from Governor Rochas Okorocha of APGA.
The source said ‘The influence of the Deputy Speaker has continued to intimidate other contenders for the nomination ticket in Imo PDP. And because he is a ranking member of the Party at the national level because of his position as Deputy Speaker, it will be difficult to deny him the party’s ticket if he decides to run for the governorship seat in 2015 on the party’s platform’
When contacted on phone to confirm or dispel the rumour, Capt Iheanacho said he remains a member of the PDP, but emphasized that importance should not be placed on actualizing one’s political aspiration on a political party.
He said he is optimistic that the PDP will undergo internal reforms that will lay to rest the existence of obnoxious practices such as templates and Apex leaders twin factor he identified are have caused so much problems in the party in the past.
It was learnt that the scramble for the Imo PDP governorship ticket has gathered momentum following indications that the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, may have set his sights on the governorship race in the State. He is said to have erected a quiet, but efficient and effective campaign machinery within the party in the State which will metamorphose into a full blown political structure when the race for the governorship seat begins.
The PDP in Imo State has remained in opposition since its candidate and then governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim lost the 2011 governorship election to Owelle Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
When Imo Trumpeta contacted the Imo State Chairman of the PDP, Eze Duruihoma (SAN) in Owerri for comments, he was not on sit, but a member of the party executive who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is out of place for anyone to conjure that the party’s governorship ticket has been conceded to a candidate who has not even declared his intention to aspire for any office.
He said ‘There are rules in the party. There is a process for selecting party flag bearers that will fly the party’s flag for various elective positions. So, there is no basis for anyone to leave the party when the whistle has not been blown’
Capt Iheanacho is said to have scores to settle with some leaders of the party in the State who accused him of anti party activities during the last general elections in Imo State. He was accused to have worked for APGA in his Owerri North Local Government Area, a development which partly contributed to his suspension as Interior Minister by President Goodluck Jonathan.
