By Dr Austin Uganwa
\nAkin to several People\u2019s Democratic Party governorship primaries held
\nacross the country last Monday, Imo state own has also come and gone
\nleaving on its trails tough contest, appreciable records and forecasts
\nthat came to pass.
\nDays and even hours before the PDP Imo gubernatorial primaries was held
\nmost political watchers were unmistakable about one fact, namely; that
\nHon Emeka Ihedioha , Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives would carry
\nthe day. Even though they also acknowledged that Senator Ifeanyi Ararume
\nand Former Governor Ikedi Ohakim were key contenders
\nThis explained why when Ihedioha arrived at the entrance of Dan Anyiam
\nStadium, Owerri venue of the event at about eleven in the morning, he was
\nheralded by a large crowd. The crowd surged rejoicing to catch a glimpse
\nof him, chanting solidarity songs. He waved, bewitching soft smiles, in
\napparent recognition of the cheers
\nRadiating in total aura of confidence, Ihedioha struck a picture of an
\nArmy General sure-footed of winning a fierce battle. The election which
\ncommenced at about 11 am with accreditation of delegates on Local Council
\nbasis was a study in transparency, openness, orderliness and tranquility.
\nThe security operatives were on top of their job, ensuring that law and
\norder were instituted throughout the duration of the process
\nThis reality provided the delegates the desirable conducive environment to
\ncast their votes freely and evidently wisely. Shortly before midnight the
\nchairman Imo state PDP Governorship Primaries Committee, Hon Tengu Tsegba
\nwas ready to announce the result. After announcing the figures polled by
\neach of the aspirants; he announced Ihedioha winner of the primaries to
\nthe admiration of many
\nIhedioha polled 346 votes to emerge the flag bearer of PDP in Imo state
\ngubernatorial election slated for February next year. His closest
\nopponents, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Chief Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor
\nof Imo state scored 336 and 213 respectively to be placed second and third
\npositions
\nIhedioha captured the reasons behind his choice by the delegates thus:
\n\u201cIt is as a result of your trust and confidence in me that I was elected
\nas the PDP Governorship flag bearer in the 2015 general election\u201d.
\nTo him, the election was one of the best primaries ever conducted by any
\nelectoral committee of the party. \u201cIt was the most painstaking, thorough,
\ntransparent and credible primary election ever conducted in the history of
\nprimary elections of any political party in Imo State\u201d, he said
\nEvidently, the emergence of Ihedioha as PDP governorship flag bearer in
\nImo state is symbolic in many respects. This is the first time since
\ninception of this political dispensation in 1999 that a serving Deputy
\nSpeaker of the House of Representatives would clinch the PDP gubernatorial
\nticket in spite of their efforts in that direction
\nChibudon Nwuche who was Deputy Speaker, 1999 to 2003 was the first to
\npursue the PDP governorship ticket in Rivers state. He failed in the bid
\nlosing to the incumbent Governor Peter Odili at that time. Austin Opara
\nwho succeeded Nwuche also tried his hand at securing the governorship
\nticket of Rivers state. Even though he was the clear choice of the people
\nof the state; Odili who was the Governor single handedly stopped him,
\ninstead gave the ticket to Rotimi Amaechi, who has been the Governor since
\n2007
\nUsman Nafada who was Deputy Speaker, 2007 and 2011 was similarly unlucky.
\nHe also failed in his sustained efforts at getting the PDP governorship
\nticket in Gombe state to run for 2011 gubernatorial election. Apparently,
\nthe Imo reality has in no small way broken the growing jinx, a huge
\nsource of comfort for future occupiers of the exalted Office of Deputy
\nSpeaker
\nIhedioha has remained consistent in PDP since inception, unlike several
\nother aspirants. Since 2011 when PDP lost Imo state to All Progressives
\nGrand Alliance(APGA), Ihedioha has been the leader of the PDP in the
\nstate and one of the major financial pillars, resulting in the survival
\nof the party during the trying period
\nUsing his position as Deputy Speaker, he has been synonymous with
\nempowerment programmes especially for vulnerable women and youths in the
\nstate, attraction of infrastructural development projects, distribution of
\neducation facilities and equipment in the state. Not a few political
\nwatchers believe that these realities contributed immensely to his
\nemergence as PDP guber flag bearer of the state.
\nArmed with PDP governorship ticket, Ihedioha faces a bigger challenge of
\ndislodging Governor Rochas Okorocha\u2019s All Progressives Congress government
\nin next year\u2019s election. He appears set to achieve it. He has started by
\nreaching out to his opponents during the primaries, delegates and all
\nparty stakeholders and indigenes of Imo state to join him as a united
\nforce in the struggle to reclaim Imo.
\nIn a move to bring all stakeholders under one umbrella ahead of 2015 guber
\nelections, he states: \u201cI appeal to all my brothers and sisters who
\ncontested with me, all the delegates, PDP members and all indigenes of Imo
\nin all walks of life to rally behind me and all other PDP Candidates for
\nvarious positions, towards ensuring that the party records wide-ranging
\nand resounding victory in Imo State in 2015 General Elections\u201d
\nDr Austin Uganwa, wrote from Owerri<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Dr Austin Uganwa Akin to several People\u2019s Democratic Party governorship primaries held across the country last Monday, Imo state own has also come and gone leaving on its trails…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n