April 28, (THEWILL) – The former governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, shocked members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he tendered a letter indicating his resignation from being a member of the party. Ihedioha disclosed that he had remained on the platform since 1998.
His exit is a blow to the State and National leadership of the PDP. Let me also remind you that majority of his loyalists had earlier departed the political family. Probably, they had the premonition that their “Oga” would be dumping the party at any moment.
Core Ihedioha’s men who left included the former Secretary to the State Government, Chris Okewulonu. He was one of the men who delivered Emeka Ihedioha during that political campaign year. Others are the Legal Adviser of the Imo PDP, Barr. Kissinger Ikokwu; former Federal House of Representatives member, Hon. Obinna Onwubuariri, and another stalwart, Ezenna Nnanyereugo. This means the PDP has lost many souls. In fact, Imo PDP is in shambles.
Ahead of the 2027 Imo guber polls, strong speculations and insinuations are emanating from folks that the Imo All Progressives Congress (APC) has perfected political plans to welcome the PDP decampees into the ruling party. Whether Ihedioha and his men are joining the party in the corridors of power or not remains far-fetched. To the Imo APC, this is a plus for the ruling party and a minus for the umbrella-logoed party that ruled the country for sixteen years. Even the Labour Party (LP) is now burdened with leadership crises from left, right and centre. The fact remains that Ihedioha would not like to miscalculate the political arithmetic as the next governorship election is approaching.
The question is now that Ihedioha has resigned from the political party he had been with for the past 26 years. What next and where? Is he going to join the ruling APC, APGA, LP or another political party that is yet to be formed?
However, Ihedioha had been rumoured to be romancing leaders of one of the political parties in the state, suggesting that he may be officially declaring his membership with the party in no distant time.
His resignation has raised dust and uncertainties, especially when his body language showed that he is preparing to vie for the guber seat come 2027.
During the 2023 general election, many stalwarts of the Imo PDP frowned at Wike’s body language. He was accused of causing the problems the party is facing today. He was making use of Samdaddy as his political ally to flex muscle in the party. They accused Wike of engaging in anti-party activities, realising that the former Rivers State governor and now FCT Minister did not support the party’s candidate in the presidential poll. They opined that the first move towards resolving the party’s crisis is to expel Wike who, as a PDP member, took up an appointment as the Minister of the FCT under the APC.
Ihedioha, as a former governor, is loved and hated due to his bluntness when it comes to scolding strayed political appointees. All eyes are now glued to him as his supporters have raised caps for the bold step taken.
I am aware he would now turn into a beautiful bride to other political parties even though some of his loyalists earlier joined the ruling APC. The Imo PDP started getting it wrong a long time ago. The same bad game was played against the former member of the party who represented Orlu, Orsu and Oru East Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Asiwaju Jerry Alagbaoso. But that is not what we are discussing here. He should look “well, well” before he leaps.
The former governor should purge his heart of grudges (if any) and go ahead with his strategy towards excelling in his endeavour. He should love the Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and assist towards contributing his quota to the development of Imo till 2027.
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