Ex-Imo Gov may join LP ahead of 2027

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti met on Sunday with the former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, at his country home.

This is even as it is being strongly rumoured in some quarters that the former Imo governor who with some of his followers last week resigned from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), may be joining the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ihedioha who was on a private visit, was received by Otti at his residence in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

Immediately after the welcome reception, Governor Otti and the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives retired into a closed-door meeting.

In a surprise move, Ihedioha had last week tendered his letter of resignation to the PDP, citing the inability of his former party to resolve some lingering internal crisis of the party.

Barely 24 hours after the former Governor’s exit, the PDP in Imo was hit by a wave of resignations by its key national members and officials.

Some of the National officers of the party from Imo State who were said to have resigned included, a BoT member, Chief Chris Okewulonu, four zonal officers, Mr Stanley Ekezie, ex-officio Zonal Officer; Chief Austin Okeke, Zonal Publicity Secretary; Chief Emeka Nwokeke, Zonal Organizing Secretary and Zonal Woman Leader, Mrs Ruth Nkwocha.

Others were three state officers and a Local Government Chairman of the party in Imo, named as follows, Mr Kissinger Ikokwu, State Legal Adviser; Emenike Nmeregini, State Publicity Secretary; Chief David Abanihi, State Assistant Treasurer and Hon Sambazz Iheaturueme, Obowo LGA Chairman.

Former members of the House of Representatives, Hon Obinna Onwubuariri; Mr Chibuzor Agulana, Prof Obioma Iheduru, and Hon Mrs Amarachi Owuamanam, were also said to be among those who had dumped the PDP.

Although Ihedioha was silent on his next political destination after his resignation from the PDP, however, Sunday’s meeting with the Abia State Governor is fuelling speculations in some quarters that the former Imo Governor may be pitching his political tent with the LP.

Those who are of this school of thought believe that with Ihedioha joining LP, it will be easier for him to get back to the Douglas House in 2027, where he was removed by the Supreme Court.

Despite the fact that the outcome of the duo’s meeting was not made public, a source who is a close aide of the Governor confided in this reporter that the meeting was centred on Ihedioha joining LP and Otti’s support.

The source said with Ihedioha joining LP and Otti lending his support, the former Imo Governor getting the LP’s Governorship ticket in 2027, is assured.

“From the little I know, the meeting is all about finalizing arrangements for Ihedioha to join LP and Otti supporting him will be a big boast for his (Ihedioha’s) political ambition in 2027, using LP’s platform.”

Some political pundits believed that on dumping the PDP, Ihedioha would join the ruling All Progressives Alliance (APC), but with the way things are going, that may not after all hold sway.