From Harry Awurumibe in Owerri
It was jubilation in Imo state as the rank of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) swelled on Wednesday with the return of party bigwigs who left the party due to some reasons.
This is even as Governor Hope Uzodimma’s former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Fabian Ihekweme, one of the chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dumped the party on Wednesday and pledged his loyalty to the PDP.
The defection took place at the Kanu Nwankwo Stadium in Owerri, during the reception organised by the PDP Imo State Chapter to welcome home the National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Senator Anyanwu, who hails from Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State was received alongside the National leadership of the PDP led by the National Chairman, Senator (Dr.) Iyorchia Ayu, who was a one-time Senate President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Prompt News reports that also received officially back to the PDP fold at the occasion attended by Who is Who in PDP Imo state was another top stakeholder, and a former Chairman of the party in the state, Barrister Charles Ezekwem.
Ezekwem resigned as the chairman of the PDP in Imo State shortly after the Supreme Court judgement that sacked Governor Emeka Ihedioha from office.
Ezekwem, who claimed then that he resigned from the PDP in order to protect his political career, later joined the APC.
Both men were received back alongside hundreds of other supporters at the event which looked like Governorship Election Campaign for the immediate
former Governor Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha whose posters were all over the arena.
The defections coming on the eve of the February 26 Imo State House of Assembly Bye-election for Ngor-Okpalla State Constituency, Imo PDP according to some stakeholders is a short in the arm.
Sir Goddy Ebere Osuji, Chairman, Goddy Ebere Engineering Services Ltd, Owerri stated that the mass defection into the PDP even when the party is not in power in the state shows clearly that Imo people are PDP in body and soul.
Also, Innocent Agunanne, a resident of Owerri who witnessed the tumultuous crowd that attended the PDP event on Wednesday said there is no argument that PDP is alive and well in Imo state.
According to him: “PDP will win Imo state if the Gubernatorial election is conducted today because Imo state bigwigs are still in the party”.
