At last, those who played key role in the emergence of Achike Udenwa in 1999 have found their voice and have rallied around one of them, Engr Charles Ugwu to deliver him at all cost as the Party’s next State Chairman.
Engr Charles Ugwu in 2007 clinched the PDP governorship ticket against all other contestants but Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who at that time claimed he won the election went to court and got victory and was as a result restored as flag-bearer of the party. This development didn’t go down well with Chief Achike Udenwa and the then President Olusegun Obasanjo who vowed to rather destroy PDP than allow Distinguished Senator Araraume to be declared governor.
The choice of Ugwu by these Abuja PDP leaders formerly known as “ndi ono nga ono” is against the views of some academics who retired from classroom and are currently eyeing active politics. For them, the emergence of Prof Obioma Iheduru, former Chairman of IMSUBEB as State Chairman of PDP will be a smooth sail. Iheduru no doubt is a team player but age like in the case of Ugwu appears a major challenge to his aspiration.
According to an insider source, most of Udenwa’s friends, especially those that served in his administration recently met in Owerri and drew up a strategy to realize the project. They had also agreed to meet Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha over their choice of the former Minister of Commerce and Industries, Engr Charles Ugwu.
Our source hinted, “the major reason those elders are supporting Ugwu is premised on the fact that with Ugwu most of them will declare to contest elective positions having been able to elect one of them as party Chairman. It is believed that Ugwu will favour the original redemption camp if elected.
While Ihedioha and Ohakim remain undecided, the likes of Ebere Udeagu, former Deputy Governor of Imo State and Barr Chris Okewulonu,former Chief of Staff to governor Ihedioha, are already championing the campaign and are working out modalities to talk to Prof Iheduru to step down for Ugwu.
The party as gathered is doing its best to avoid internal wrangling so as to come out stronger as truly opposition party after the state congress. Ugwu aspiration may hurt who enjoy the support of Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha. “This is because Ihedioha cannot afford to say no to Udenwa and other stakeholders who did everything to elect him”, the source bragged.
