– As senator falls back on PDP
– Anyaehie led exco to commence PDP LGA tour next week
There have been speculations over distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma’s political direction, since after the Supreme Court judgment that gave victory to the Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The uncertainty and the different insinuations making the rounds kept his supporters and core loyalists in a confused and defected state.
However, the senator’s political camp, has now been reinvigorated, following a meeting convened at his instance at the Okporo community hall, Orlu on Wednesday 24th January, 2018, where his membership and commitment to the People Democratic Party were reaffirmed to the admiration of those who believe and look up to him.
It was gathered that because of the concern expressed by his supporters, senator Uzodimma mandated members of the exco of his faction of the party, to embark on a tour of the local government areas, in a bid to reach out and sensitize their supporters to avoid imminent vacuum because there are reports that most of them have started drifting to other political camps. Prior to the meeting of last Wednesday, which was aimed at sensitizing the people of Orlu and Orsu. There had been similar meetings at Isu, Njaba etc.
A source close to the party, told this reporter that Chief C.O.C Akolisa who presided over the meeting, said Chief Uzodimma and his supporters are still members of the PDP, whose commitment and loyalty are not and will not be in doubt. Chief Akolisa, hinted that they will embark on a tour of the local government chapters of the party, to mobilize, educate and sensitize the people at the grassroots on the need for focus, courage and determination to overcome the challenges ahead.
He urged the members to be hopeful, resolute, and committed, expressing optimism that they will get a favourable judgment in the matter presently in the High Court and at the Court of Appeal, challenging the recognition of the Charles Ezekwem faction by the National working committee of the party.
However, a source close to the senator, revealed that, he had reached out to the leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the National level for a pact, but was discouraged because his terms and conditions were rejected. “His demand for structural changes in the parties, to accommodate his supporters and loyalists were rejected by the parties in question hence there was a stalemate in their discussion. He is presently considering moving to any of the smaller political parties that are yet to conduct their congress, with the hope of flooding their executive council with his loyalists, to enable him dictate the pace and ultimately, have his way”.
The distinguished two time senator, is also said to be watching to see what will be the outcome of the reconciliation committee set up by the national executive council of the PDP before finally taking a decision. “Senator Uzodimma is seriously strategizing and scheming to ensure he remains politically relevant. He is said to have been assured by the former national chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who is presently a senator in Anambra State that his terms and conditions for joining APGA with his supporters will be met, as soon as Chief Victor Oye’s tenure as national chairman of APGA elapses in a very short while”.
A source close to the APGA leadership also disclosed that Umeh, though a senator, is not happy that Oye is presently on the chairmanship seat he, Umeh appropriated to himself for several years and is pulling all strings to ensure Chief Oye’s removal to enable him install a puppet whom, he will be giving instructions and also be receiving returns from, unlike Chief Oye who is not only assertive but independent minded.
“A pointer to the sour relationship between Oye and Umeh was Chief Oye’s absence at the swearing in ceremony of Victor Umeh as a senator and the fact that Umeh, instead of going through the normal channel to invite party leaders to his swearing in ceremony at the national assembly, used an unknown telephone number to send text messages, inviting them to the ceremony, purporting the said text messages to have been sent by the party’s national executive led by Chief Victor Oye.
Political pundits are presently waiting and watching to see the outcome of these political permutations and intrigues as events gradually unfold.
