Imo PDP guber primary: The results, the takeaways

The emergence of Emeka Ihedioha, the Mbaise-born deputy speaker at the Federal House of Representatives, as the Imo PDP gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 election in the state may have come and gone. Ihedioha polled 346 votes to beat 26 others, beginning from his closest rival, Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume with 336 votes, and Ikedi Godson Ohakim (213 votes). Other results were Chris Anyanwu, 10 votes; Chuka Odom, 1 vote; Emma Ojinere, 4 votes; Bright Nwanne, 46 votes; Chris Brown Amadi, 1 vote; Humphrey Anumudu, 20 votes; Mike Ahamba (SAN), 2 votes; Bethel Amadi, 15 votes and Jude Njoku (Prof.) 8 votes.

Others are Ken Ojiri, 4 votes; Julius Kpaduwa, 1 vote; Martins Agbaso, 1 vote; Ken Njemanze, 7 votes; Charles Onyeabakor, 1 vote; Charles Amanze, 1 vote; Clara Njoku Igolo, 1 vote, among many others.

But what may not go away so soon are a combination of issues trailing the primary election. For sure, the exercise was so pulsating, as delegates and observers waited for over 10 hours inside the Dan Anyiam Stadium, before proceedings could start. They sucked-in the scorching sun, until evening set in. As early as 8.00am, thousands of party delegates, security agencies, observers, journalists and others, had gathered inside the stadium. Because of the high expectations from the primary, many came around to see things for themselves. More so, the contestants are men and women of high net worth: two SANs, a professor, business moguls, administrators, a serving senator, a deputy speaker in the House of Reps, among other professions and vocations.

It was not until 6.00pm that actual voting commenced, with delegates filing out from each of the 27 local government areas of the state. About 12 midnight, the results were out. A combination of behind-the-scene activities caused the huge delay.

First, it was allegedly agreed by the state PDP executive committee led by the chairman, Nnamdi Anyaehie, with the tacit support of party stakeholders that “only core PDP members” should be allowed to be elected. What it meant was that delegates were carefully briefed to ensure they do not vote massively for those aspirants who had returned to the party (PDP) from other parties like the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and All Progressives Congress (APC). It was alleged that Anyaehie personally ensured that proceedings went in favour of the choice aspirant – Ihedioha. At least, the chairman was alleged to have compiled the delegates list to take a one-sided hue, and made sure things remained so up till the primary election proper. It was also gathered that Anyaehie allegedly took over the job of the Returning Officer – personally directing the processes – all in the bid not to take chances with the “PDP-returnees.”

The general feeling among the “core-PDP” members was that they had stayed-put in the party, ensuring that the party was not worsted as an opposition in the state; while the returnees had gone out to seek golden fleece in other parties; and when issues didn’t favour them, they ran back to a party they had abandoned when it (party) needed them most. For not staying put to help nurture the party when things were pretty rough, these ‘core-PDP’ members felt they should get the pie “for their work.”

One top delegate hinted that Ihedioha and Hope Uzodinma were those who pumped-in their resources to build up the PDP’s current structure in the state, since the party lost out in the May 2011 Imo Supplementary gubernatorial election through Ikedi Ohakim, the former governor.

By far, the results were shaped by two or three major political game-changers that ended up working in favour of Ihedioha: that, Ifeanyi Araraume and Ohakim (both from Mbano in the Okigwe senatorial zone) chose to contest, upturned their chances from clinching the ultimate prize – the party’s gubernatorial ticket. Secondly, Uzodinma (who had won the Orlu senatorial zone ticket) decided to make a last minute decision to share the Orlu delegates into two- between Araraume and Ohakim. An Orlu delegate said they were not particularly pleased that Araraume and Ohakim decided to run from the same town (Mbano) and senatorial zone. The delegate said that the two politicians should have worked together rather than work at cross-purposes. Thirdly, an embarrassing number of votes were allocated to other aspirants. It was alleged that these aspirants were allocated between one and 20 votes in the results sheet.

Also, zoning posturing could easily be gleaned from the contestants – all of the 27 aspirants came from Owerri and Okigwe senatorial zones of the state. This lays credence to PDP’s now national cliche – political leadership zoning formula.  Of course, Orlu zone is presently having its share in Governor Rochas Okorocha, who curiously abandoned a second tenure bid to attempt a gamble at presidential aspiration level. Besides, the zone (also has the highest number of local government areas – 12.

Another takeaway was the free use of money to lure delegates. The highest bidder got the highest ballots.

Incidentally, Araraume has rejected the outcome of the gubernatorial primary, or so it seems. He has approached the Election Appeal Panel. His grouse is that there are discrepancies in the number of accredited delegates; total votes cast, voided votes and valid votes. The Mbano-born politician claims that irregularities in the poll are quite glaring. Araraume drew his strong point from the public announcement by the state PDP chairman, Anyaehie, who had said that total accredited voters were 1,057 out of which 1,017 ballots were cast; voided votes, 11; valid votes, 1006.

But Araraume is contesting the figures; saying there were actually 1,064 accredited voters, not 1,057. He also said he scored 336 votes, while Ihedioha actually polled 325 votes, not 346 announced by the Returning Officer.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports indicate that Araraume has gone to court to challenge his ouster.

BEN EGUZOZIE