The candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 11, Governorship election in Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (SamDaddy) was on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, humiliated by key leaders of his party who were selected to lead his campaign for the forthcoming election as they boycott event.
The inauguration which took place at the State party office along Okigwe road, in Owerri on Tuesday, reportedly held without the much expected key leaders of the party.
The over-bloated list of the Campaign Council members and its sub Committees were said have included those who have long defected to All Progressive Congress (APC) and other parties.
Regrettably, the much touted inauguration had the Campaign Director General, Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ikenga Ugochinyere and many other key campaign directors boycott the planned inauguration.
The inauguration, was earlier described as part of the moves to reinvigorate the party and woo more members having been enmeshed in deep internal crises that probably caused many aggrieved leaders and members of the party defecting to other parties in the state.
Recall that PDP had since 2007 lost grip to winning governorship elections in the State.
However, the last, PDP won governorship election in the state was in 2003 with Chief Achike Udenwa for a second term in office.
Since then, all efforts to take back power from the APC has not been successful.
One of the party’s who preferred anonymity revealed, the danger signals were noticed barely 24 hours to the event when the key officers of the campaign council tactically refused to connect with the organisers or assure them of their readiness to honour the inauguration event.
He however described the development as an “embarrassing big blow” to the party’s guber candidate, SamDadday, and his running mate, Jones Onyereri.
He further blamed the glitches on organisers who drew such vital list of hundreds of campaign Committee members without proper consultation.
Only a few of the chieftains of the party listed as members of the campaign council were present as many ignored the event.
Notably, former Governor Emeka Ihedioha and his Deputy, Engr Gerald Irona, were conspicuously absent. Former Governor Achike Udenwa was also conspicuously absent.
Others who boycotted the event include: Uche Onyeagocha (former Secretary to the Government of Imo State), Chris Okewulonu (former Chief of Staff), Hon. Mayor Eze (former Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs), Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu, Chief Thankgod Ezeani, etcetera.
Perhaps what appeared as a rude shock to the PDP is the conspicuous absence of the current Federal House members in the persons of Rt. Hon Jonas Okeke, Rt Hon Ugonna Ozuruigbo (OZB), who is the deputy director of the campaign council for Orlu Zone, and Rt Hon Chinedu Emeka Martins.
Also, conspicuously absent was a former Minister of State for the FCT. Chief Chuka Odom, whose name was listed on the campaign council, but he boycotted the event. Chief Chibuike Achigbu, Chief Charles Onwunali, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Engr Benjamin Ekwueme, and Mrs. Nkeiruka
Ibekwe were also conspicuously absent.
Also notably was that from the rank of former local government IMC Chairmen, most of them could not be seen at the venue, including Oru West – Akunnakwe Kenneth, Oguta – Hon. Hillary Eberendu, Ohaji Egbema – Hon. Damian Ezeruo, Onuimo – Chief Silas Onyeiwu, Obowo – Hon. Jasper Chukwuemeka, Ehime Mbano – Engr. Ben Nwaoluka, Nkwerre – Lawrence Nwadike, Ihitte Uboma – Barr. Maureen Onyekele (Mrs.), Okigwe – Hon. Paul Uche, Isiala Mbano – Ngozi Oguike (Mrs.), Orsu – Herbert Ubah, etcetera.
When contacted, one of the absentee leaders from Ideato North LGA characterized the entire process as a charade and wondered why he was expected to join a campaign that is rudderless with no developmental agenda and neither inspiring message to Imo people
