Emeka Ihedioha, the ex-Governor of Imo State, seems to be paving the way to join the Labour Party (LP), following his recent departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ihedioha’s potential political trajectory became evident when he visited Governor Alex Otti’s residence in Nvosi for what could be preliminary discussions before aligning with LP.
The office of Governor Otti made Ihedioha’s visit public on Monday, releasing a photo of the former Imo governor with the Abia Governor. Otti is currently the sole LP governor among Nigeria’s 36 state governors.
The brief statement accompanying the photo did not disclose the purpose of Ihedioha’s visit, merely stating that the Abia governor welcomed his guest, who was on a private visit. Following the reception, Governor Otti and his guest proceeded to a private meeting.
Ihedioha is thought to be seeking a new political platform after his resignation from PDP on April 23, 2024, due to the resolution of the National Secretary of the party in favor of Samuel Anyanwu.
Anyanwu’s reinstatement as PDP National Secretary after losing the gubernatorial election has solidified his control over the party’s structure in Imo, leaving his rival, Ihedioha, in a precarious position within Imo PDP.
Ihedioha, who had a brief stint as the Governor of Imo State under the PDP banner in May 2019, was replaced by Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a contentious Supreme Court ruling.
Ihedioha, who served as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from June 2011 to June 2015 on the PDP platform, has been expressing dissatisfaction with the party in recent times.
His departure from the party, where he had been a key member since 1998, triggered a wave of resignations among his loyalists, who held various party positions from the local government to the national level.
It is anticipated that these PDP stalwarts from Imo and their supporters will follow Ihedioha’s lead into the LP once he officially announces his new political affiliation.
