No fewer than 22 aspirants are struggling for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Imo State. There are fears that the crowded race may lead to post-primary crisis, which may rob the party of victory at the general election, reports OKODILI NDIDI.CRISISis brewing in the Imo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the governorship primaries. No fewer than 22 aspirants are jostling for the ticket. Thus, party leaders are apprehensive about likely post-primary crisis.A PDP official told reporters in owerri, the state capital that 17 aspirants have purchased nomination forms, foreclosing chances of possible harmonisation to reduce the number to a manageable size.The aspirants include Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Professor Jude Njoku, Chief Chuka Odom, Chief Jerry Chkwueke, and Senator Chris Anyanwu. Others are Special Assistant to the President on Youth Matters Obinna Adim, Hon Charles Onyeagbako, the President of the Pan-African Parliament, and Bethel Amadi.Recently, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain, Chief Martin Agbaso, and many of his supporters defected to the PDP. But, he has not unfolded any ambition. A source said that Agbaso, who had a governorship ambition, may join the race, following consultations with stakeholders. He is a credible politician. He also has a deep purse.The party leadership has made spirited attempts to discourage some of the aspirants from buying the expensive nomination forms. But, aspirants were adamant. They have called for free and fair primaries to produce the governorship candidate.Many of the aspirants have pedigrees. They are also influential in the party. Thus, the mistake of 2011 may be repeated, following the lack of consensus. The contenders are approaching the contest as a matter of war.In 2011, aggrieved party members threatened a showdown, following their rejection of the outcome of the shadow poll. Many of them teamed up with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). At the end of the day, Governor Rochas Okorocha won the poll.One of the contenders, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, while declaring his intention at the partys secretariat in Owerri, warned that he will oppose any attempt to impose a candidate on the party. He said only free and fair primaries, which would give equal opportunities to contenders, can guarantee victory for the PDP in next years elections.He said: If there is a free and fair primaries and I lose, I will support the candidate that emerges with everything I have. But, if the process is compromised and a candidate isimposed on the party, I will equally use everything I have to ensure the candidate fails. I have done it before and I will do it again.Ararume, who recently returned to the PDP from the APC, said justice and equity will foster peace.Shortly after he was received by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, along with the former governor, Achike Udenwa and Senator Chris Anyanwu, the partys Legal Adviser, Mr. Cyprian Akaolisa, said the PDP may concede the ticket to Ararume as compensation for the injustice done to him in 2007 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But, the party has debunked this, clarifying that there will be a level-playing ground at the primaries.Another thorn in the PDPs flesh is the former governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim. He has appealed to the party to give the ticket to him so that he can do a second term. Ohakim lost to Okorocha, following the internal wrangling that depleted the PDPs fortunes at the poll.A former minister, Chief Chuka Odom, who is believed to be enjoying the support of former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu, has also cautioned against any consensus arrangement.He however, said that he was not disturbed by the large number of aspirants in the race, stressing that it is a healthy development.Odom said: The number of aspirants shows that the people are becoming increasingly aware of the need to contribute their quota to the development of the state because, at the end, a candidate will emerge in a healthy and competitive process.Another contender, who many believe may likely emerge as the consensus candidate, is Ihedioha.But, this option, according to reliable sources, will further compound the problem. They said that, in the history of governorship elections in the state, big names have never won.A political analyst, Dr. Frank Uzoaru, attributed the large number of aspirants to the elite opposition to the governor. They said this has buoyed their confidence that the party will achieve victory at the poll.But, he pointed out that, while the PDP is busy fighting internal battle, Okorocha, who is the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is waiting to benefit from the imminent crisis in the PDP. The post-primary crisis may impede the partys chances. Except something is done to save the party from another embarrassing outing, the result of the 2015 governorship election will be worse for the PDP than the 2011 election.The Publicity Secretary, Hon. Enyinna Onuegbu, said the number of the aspirants will enhance the chances of the party at the poll.He added: The number of aspirants underscores the popularity and the acceptance of the party and it will greatly increase the chances of the party because all the aspirants are running in their own capacity and they will rally round whoever wins the primaries, especially through a free and fair process, which the leadership of the party under Barrister Nnamdi Anyaehie is committed to.I am happy the way the aspirants are going about it. No one is insulting anyone. If they had suspected any form of foul play, you would have heard of people defecting to other political parties to pursue their ambitions. There is a lot to the Imo PDP presently. It is totally re-branded.]]>
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