THE IMPLICATION OF SAMDADDY'S GUBER AMBITION IN IMO PDP

Kizito Duru.

As far as today's Imo PDP is concerned, two names that easily come to mind when the race for the party's 2019 Imo guber ticket is discussed are, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and Sen Samuel Anyanwu (Samdaddy), with the latter having thrown his hat into the ring just last month. Over the years, the two political gladiators have made name for themselves both at the state and national levels, hence, no one can doubt that the two giants from Owerri Zone are qualified and ripe to govern Imo State. While Ihedioha had risen to the height of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and was the flag bearer of his party for the 2015 governorship polls in the State, Samdaddy on his own is currently a ranking Senator in the 8th Assembly, while representing Imo East Senatorial District as well as occupying a sensitive position as Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

Apparently, before the entrance of the Ikeduru born Senator into the guber race, it had appeared that, all things being equal, Hon. Ihedioha will have a smooth ride when the opposition party holds her governorship primary election later this year. But with the current turn of events, this might not be the case any longer. In Samdaddy, Ihedioha is probably sure of a strong competitor in the race for the party's ticket. Aside being a Senator who is sure to have assess to the powers that be within the party both at the state and national levels, Samdaddy seems to be enjoying better mass appeal.

Admittedly, it has been rumoured and speculated in some quarter that the governorship interest nursed by Samdaddy is somewhat motivated by Emeka Ihedioha's alleged preference of Hon. Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi for the Senatorial seat of Owerri zone. However, while the above might not be politically correct and whatever the case may be, Samdaddy's rising popularity and seemingly wide acceptance are testimonies that he is not in the race for a vendetta mission but to win the party's ticket and the subsequent general election. Notably, Samdaddy's coming into the contest gives room for a healthy competition in Imo PDP, as it reassumes the position of wielding an umbrella large enough to accommodate as many people as possible.

To blot out the disappointments coming the way of Imo PDP since 2007 and to ensure that the party is not labeled a serial loser, there is a pertinent need to present someone whose charisma, aura and personality appeal to the majority of Imolites. Ousting a sitting governor that wants to produce a successor is not a fight PDP will go in with an unpopular candidate. Senator Samuel Anyanwu represents everything the party needs to return to winning ways, he understands the politics of the State.

Before the public declaration of his guber ambition at the party's State Secretariat, the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) was tipped by political analysts and commentators to be the favorite to produce the next governor of the State. But Since Senator Samuel Anyanwu made his intention known, the Imo PDP has experienced a return of those that were hitherto disenchanted with the way the party was dubbed a "One Man Party". PDP as a party has once again regained full support from its supporters. In Samdaddy, PDP faithful are looking beyond the primary election to reclaiming its status as the ruling party, by reclaiming Douglas House.