Edith CHUKU
A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, John Amadi, has debunked claims that the leadership of the party in the LGA is plotting to impose a two term house of assembly member, Hon. Sam Ogeh, on the people for a third term.
The former supervisor for education, who is currently the coordinator of Wike’s Solidarity Movement, WSM, in Emohua LGA, discredited the assertion in an interview with TNN, adding that the party in the LGA was not divided.
His statement appears contrary to the assertion of some party faithful who insisted that since there was no initial zoning arrangement, the leader of PDP in Emohua LGA, Chief Paul Wonodi, should allow interested candidates from the regions to participate, and the most popular one to emerge, as directed by the governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.
They warned that the party would lose the election if the leadership failed to heed to the governor’s directive, even as they expressed worries that the party in the LGA has purportedly split into four factions.
Amadi, while reacting to speculation that EMOLGA PDP has been split into four factions said “There is no division in Emohua PDP. I am telling you the truth, there is no division, it’s just that Emohua has a way of doing things, we don’t throw up any position or appointment coming to Emohua, we have a structure where the leadership of Emohua is in-charge of every activity in Emohua PDP, so when position like this comes they know where they will zone each position to.
“As I speak with you now, the council chairman is in Ishimbam, we have three regions, Ishimbam zone, Reo and Middle belt, am I clear? Now, the council chairman is Ishi-Mbam where I come from, now as I speak with you the party chairman of the LGA, the PDP chairman is from the Middle belt, so, if they said they want to zone the assembly member to the other side, there is nothing like imposition, no, it’s not imposition.
“Sam Ogeh served first, second term and if the leadership of Emohua local government is saying let the man come back, there is no trouble, even the present council chairman, Chidi Llyod served up to three times, three terms, so I don’t know why people say imposition, there is nothing like imposition. Activities of PDP in Emohua is regulated by the leadership of the party; that is how we operate. So there is nothing like imposition. As I speak with you, I am telling you the truth, nothing like imposition.
“If they say let the thing remain in Emohua, we don’t know whether it will be Sam Ogeh or not, Sam Ogeh only declared his interest, likewise any other candidate declared, so at the end of it, during the primary, so there is nothing like imposition, the primary will tell, of course, you have been following politics, you know the procedure of what I am talking about, the primary determine who get the flag.”
On the alleged defection threat from PDP to APC, by supporters of one of the aspirants of the EMOLGA house of assemble seat, Joseph Awuse, to support Senator Andrew Uchendu and his party members, Amadi said, “no person will decamp, if it didn’t come to you today, definitely it will come to you tomorrow, if you are in politics, political corridor, you should be able to know. I have ambition, I’m a human being, I’ve been following politics, I have served the party, so, if the thing did not enter for me today, does not mean that it will not enter for me tomorrow.
“Joseph Awuse, the father really tried for the party, so, the guy, thank God he has come to the party, let him continue serving, if by tomorrow he sees another opportunity, we will support him.”
TNN gathered that some wards in the LGA have threatened to vote against PDP if the leaders insist in their alleged plans to impose Ogeh.
A report also revealed that some aggrieved members of the PDP have already started discussions with some opposition political parties in the LGA. It is believed that there are some party members who is not happy with Ogeh, with claims that he failed EMOLGA people and that he is not supposed to go back to the House of Assembly again.
Coordinator of David Omereji Vanguard, Igwe Onyeche Wofurum, popularly known as Humble Lion also confirmed the development, saying that Egbeda, Omudioga, Ubimini, Elele-Alimini and other communities are warming up for the mother of all political battles.
Igwe while appealing to the governor of the state and the state leadership of PDP to call EMOLGA PDP leaders to order and avoid the worst defeat in the next year general elections, also warned that PDP will gradually die a natural death in Emohua LGA if nothing is done to allow the most popular candidate emerge.
