Ihedioha Moves to Join Labour Party, Holds Discussions with Otti

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Less than a week after he resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, appears to have initiated moves to join the Labour Party (LP).

Ihedioha emitted strong signals about his next political direction when he appeared at the Nvosi country home of Governor Alex Otti on Sunday for what could be an exploratory talks before pitching his tent with LP.

His visit was made known Monday when the office of Governor Otti released a photograph showing the former Imo governor with the Abia Governor during the visit. Otti is the only LP governor among the 36 state governors in Nigeria.

A two paragraph release that accompanied the photograph did not reveal the purpose of Ihedioha’s visit but only said that the Abia governor received his visitor, “who was on a private visit”.

“After the welcome reception, Governor Otti and his visitor retired into a closed-door meeting,” the release said.

Ihedioha is believed to be shopping for a political platform after he resigned his membership of PDP on April 23, 2024, citing the way the issue of the National Secretary of the party was resolved in favour of Samuel Anyanwu.

By getting his job back as PDP National Secretary after losing the governorship poll, the structure of the party in Imo has firmly been thrust into Anyanwu’s control thereby putting his rival, Ihedioha on a very weak footing in Imo PDP.

The former Imo governor had breezed into Douglas House Owerri on the platform of PDP in May 2019 in what turned out to be a shortlived tenure following a controversial Supreme Court verdict that replaced him with Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In recent times Ihedioha had been nursing grievances against the party on which platform he became the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from June 2011 to June 2015.

His resignation from the party he had been a prominent member since 1998 opened a floodgate of resignations by his loyalists, who were party office holders from local government to national level.

Those that followed Ihedioha to exit the umbrella include a BoT member,  Chief Chris Okewulonu; four zonal officers – Mr Stanley Ekezie, ex-officio, Chief Austin Okeke,  Zonal Publicity Secretary, Chief Emeka Nwokeke, Zonal Organising Secretary and  Zonal Woman Leader,  Mrs Ruth Nkwocha.

At state and LG level, three state officers and a Local Government Chairman of the party in resigned. They include Mr Kissinger Ikokwu. State Legal Adviser: Mazi Emenike Nmeregini, State Publicity Secretary;  Chief David Abanihi, State Assistant Treasurer and Hon Sambazz Iheaturueme, Obowo LGA Chairman.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Obinna Onwubuariri;  Mr Chibuzor Agulana, Prof Obioma Iheduru, Hon Mrs. Amarachi Owuamanam, also joined their leader in dumping PDP.

It is expected that these Imo PDP chieftains and their supporters would follow Ihedioha into LP when he eventually announces his new found party platform.