.As Anyanwu Insists No Concensus Candidate
The political rivalry between a former Governor of Imo State, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and his erstwhile friend and ally, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Sam Daddy) will be reenacted again as both Politicians jostle for the sole ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Governorship slot.
According to information available to Trumpeta Newspaper, Ihedioha and Anyanwu have been cleared by the Party to participate in the Imo PDP Governorship Primary election slated for next month.
Ihedioha and Anyanwu were at PDP Headquarter, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, where both men were given the go-ahead to face the Delegates in the contentious race.
It will not be the first time both men would be confronting each other in the Imo Governorship Primary of the PDP, as they tried each other for size in 2019, but Ihedioha came out the winner.
However, Anyanwu did not accept the defeat as he headed to Court, as eventually the matter ended at the Supreme Court in favour of the former Governor.
This time around, pundits maintain that the clash between both former friends will stretch Imo PDP further, as the Party is already polarized due to the interests of Ihedioha and Anyanwu, which has divided the Party into Divine Mandate Group and Rebuild Imo Organisation.
Indications are that the battle will end in the field, as Anyanwu while picking his form said he is not stepping down for Ihedioha, but rather called on Ihedioha to step down for him this time.
Meanwhile, Ihedioha has also said he is out for a level-playing ground at the Primary, which in the end should bring Imo PDP together rather than divide it.
While Anyanwu insists that Ihedioha should give him chance this time, having tried twice before, Ihedioha is saying that experience and track records are essential in the race, as his achievements in office in seven months is a selling point for PDP to confront the incumbent APC Government, rather than parading a new person.
Already, the time and date for the primary have been fixed for next month, as both politicians perfect plots to outwit each other.
Political observers believe that between Ihedioha and Anyanwu, whoever controls the majority of the Delegates will carry the day.
Sources said that the former Governor, and Anyanwu, who is presently the National Secretary of PDP are criss-crossing in Abuja to influence the outcome of the congress that will produce the Delegates.
Meanwhile, the Imo PDP has never performed so poor in any election in the State since 1999, as it did in the just concluded general elections, as sources said that the only option left for the party to bounce back is to hold a free and fair Governorship primary which would produce a strong Governorship candidate that will begin by reconciling aggrieved members of the party, before the Governorship election proper that comes up on November 11, 2023.
