President Jonathan Storms Imo State To Receive Returnees Into PDP

OWERRI — Speculations are rife that President Goodluck Jonathan will storm Owerri next week to formally welcome former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, family.

Other big-wigs rumoured to have perfected their plans to return to the PDP fold include Senator Chris Anyanwu, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Chief Chukwudi Mayor Eze, Col. Lambert Iheanacho (rtd) and all their supporters.
Our correspondent gathered that Jonathan will be accompanied to the planned grand PDP rally in Owerri by members of the National Working Committee, National Executive Council and Board of Trustees of the party.
Vanguard recalls that Udenwa, Araraume, Iheanacho and Eze dumped the PDP for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which later fused into the All Progressives Congress, APC.

It will also be recalled that Senator Anyanwu dumped the PDP a few weeks to the 2011 general elections and actualised her dream of returning to the Senate on the wings of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
There was also a story that an Owerri-based legal practitioner and former chieftain of  APC, Chief Mike Ahamba, had equally concluded plans to return to the PDP.

Careful political watchers in the state are of the view that should President Jonathan accept to come to Imo as he did for Sokoto, it would be the first time since the immediate past governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, left office.
People spoken to, were of the view that “with all the big names in Imo politics returning to the PDP family, they will give APC, personified by Governor Rochas Okorocha, a run for their money.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of PDP Contact and Reconciliation Committee, Chief Jerry Chukwueke,  said there would be no imposition of candidates in the next general elections.
Chukwueke, who made the promise while addressing PDP loyalists in Ideato South local council area of the state, also welcomed into the PDP family over 2,000 decampees from other parties.
[Vanguard]