The struggle over who won the Dec 8 2014 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has taken deep root in the judiciary with Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha going to court asking PDP not to submit the name of any person except him.
On Wednesday, an Oguta High Court granted an interim injunction restraining PDP from submitting any name order than the name of Ihedioha as the duly elected candidate of the Imo PDP for the 2015 Guber election, having been declared the winner. The matter was then adjourned to the 23rd of December for hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.
Trumpeta learnt that this latest move is calculated to counter any legal moves to stop the submission of Ihedioha’s name.
The motion was moved by Ndukwe Nnawuchi (SAN) and was granted after an exhaustive legal argument.
It would be recalled that Araraume had two days approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking expert order to restrain INEC from acting upon the name of Ihedioha as the authentic Imo PDP guber candidate for 2015 election. The Court while refusing Araraume’s application asked that the parties be put on notice while it adjourned to the 9th of December 2014, for hearing on the motion for interlocutory injunction.
Elders and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State cutting across the three Senatorial zones of the state have warned defeated governorship aspirant, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume to abide by the outcome of the primaries and strictly explore internal party mechanisms for addressing grievances instead of engaging u anti-party activities.
In a statement yesterday, the PDP elders and leaders expressed disappointment in Ararume for “engaging in lawlessness” after giving an undertaking to abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP and not to go to court on party primaries.
The statement threatened to recommend severe disciplinary action against him while calling on law enforcement agents to restore order to the party secretariat in Owerri..
The statement was signed by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, member PDP Board of Trustees; Chief I.D Nwoga, former Minister and former Imo PDP state chairman; and Chief Levi Oguike, former member House of Representatives, all from Owerri Zone. From Orlu zone, Chief Arthur Nzeribe, member PDP Board Trustees; Dr. Douglas Acholonu, former Deputy Governor, Imo State; and Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, former Minister and Delegate at the governorship primaries. From Okigwe Zone, Chief Ozichukwu Chukwu, former National Vice Chairman, PDP; Chief Ebere Udeagu, former Deputy Governor and Rt. Hon. Maxwell Duru, former Speaker, Imo State signed the Statement.
Part of the statement reads:
“In the past few days, leaders and members of the PDP have watched with dismay and sadness the attempt by Senator Ifeanyi Ararume to destroy the electoral prospects of the party at the 2015 elections, in Imo State.
“It has therefore become necessary to let the entire PDP members, Imo State citizens and the general public understand the true position.
“The PDP as a party has a constitution that guides its activities and also guidelines for primaries approved by National Working Committee of the party and this was sent to all the states. The same guidelines were used in all the elections- Governorship, National Assembly, and State House of Assembly primaries.
“The governorship primaries in Imo State was conducted by an electoral panel sent from PDP National Headquaters, made up of persons of integrity. The panel declared Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, winner of the Governorship primaries and we have expected Chief Ararume to petition the Appeal Panel rather than engage in lawlessness.
“We wish to recommend that in future elections, candidates should not administer Oaths on delegates as this offends our religious sensibilities. In particular, we advice Senator Ararume to conduct himself in this regard as a distinguished Senator and should not continue to cause disaffection and division in Imo PDP.
Meanwhile, The process leading to the emergence of Chief Chuma Nnaji, from Njaba LGA of Imo state as running mate of the PDP governorship winner Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, can now be ascertained.
With a day to the end of the date stipulated for submission for candidates, a statement from project 2015, Ihedioha’s campaign organization stated that the former Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and two time lawmaker is the running mate for the 2015 election.
Trumpeta learnt that several factors and underground forces led to the emergence of Nnaji. It was learnt that a fresh political marriage between Ihedioha and the former governor of the state, Achike Udenwa was instrumental to the nomination of Nnaji.
Apart from coming from Orlu zone believed to be the highest in terms of number of votes and LGAs, Nnaji, is a Catholic to complement a balance with Ihedioha who is an Anglican.
Said to be a master tactician in terms of political strategy, Nnaji’s Deputy Governorship position was said to be influenced by Udenwa who has political affinity with Ihedioha.
Trumpeta gathered that Udenwa who is desperate to launch back into reckoning in the mainstream of Imo PDP is using Ihedioha as a launch pad. The intention to work closely with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps is for the purpose of having a controlling share of the party interest in the state.
Nnaji is believed to be a core loyalist of Udenwa and both have worked together in the past leading to the Umuaka-born former Lawmaker meriting a two-time tenure as House member and Deputy Speaker as well as former Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
It was also revealed that the Udenwa group under the aegis of “Redemption 98” political structure has been regrouping to recapture PDP stronghold. And Nnaji would be used as a “poser” and “entry behaviour” tactics to bounce back into reckoning.
This newspaper further gathered that when Nnaji dumped Capt Emma Iheacho when the former minister left PDP for APGA, Nnaji remained in PDP by closing ties with the PDP of Udenwa family.
In the war of supremacy between the Senator representing Orlu zone and PDP flagbearer for the 2015 election, Senator Hope Uzodimma and Udenwa, Nnaji was said to have pitched tent with the Udenwa group.
In view of the report that Senator Uzodimma may have asked LGAs where he had controlling share of the delegates to vote for a particular aspirant for governorship against Ihedioha, the choice of Nnaji from Udenwa group is said to be a calculated attempt to get the support of stakeholders not comfortable to the alleged undue influence and power Uzodimma wields.
