From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, on Sunday, met with the former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, at his country home.
This is even as it is being strongly rumoured in some quarters that the former Imo governor, who, alongside some of his followers, resigned from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) last week, may join the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ihedioha, who was on a private visit, was received by Otti at his residence in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
Immediately after the welcome reception, Otti and the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives retired into a closed-door meeting.
In a surprise move, Ihedioha had, last week, tendered his letter of resignation to the PDP, citing the inability of his former party to resolve some lingering internal crisis. Barely 24 hours after the former governor’s exit, the PDP in Imo State, was hit by a wave of resignations by its key national members and officials.
Some of the national officers of the party from Imo State who were said to have resigned included, a BoT member, Chief Chris Okewulonu, four zonal officers, Mr Stanley Ekezie, ex-officio zonal officer; Chief Austin Okeke, zonal publicity secretary; Chief Emeka Nwokeke, zonal organising secretary, and zonal women leader, Mrs Ruth Nkwocha.
Others were three state officers and a local government chairman of the party in Imo State, Mr Kissinger Ikokwu, state legal adviser; Emenike Nmeregini, state publicity secretary; Chief David Abanihi, state assistant treasurer and Sambazz Iheaturueme, Obowo LGA chairman.
Obinna Onwubuariri, Mr Chibuzor Agulana, Prof Obioma Iheduru and Mrs Amarachi Owuamanam, were also said to be among those who had dumped the PDP.
Although Ihedioha was silent on his next political destination after his resignation from the PDP, the meeting with Governor Otti is fuelling speculations that he may be pitching his political tent with the LP.
Those who are of this school of thought believe that with Ihedioha in the LP, it will be easier for him to get back to the Douglas House in 2027, where he was removed from by the Supreme Court.
Despite the fact that the outcome of the duo’s meeting was not made public, a close aide of the governor confided in the Daily Sun that the meeting was centred on Ihedioha joining the LP and for Otti’s support.
“From the little I know, the meeting is all about finalising arrangements for Ihedioha to join the LP, and Otti, supporting him will be a big boost for his (Ihedioha’s) political ambition in 2027, using the LP’s platform.”
Some political pundits believe that after dumping the PDP, Ihedioha would join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but with the way things are going, that may not be feasible.