Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Senator representing Owerri zone in the Senate, may be up against stiff opposition within his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to return to the Red Chambers of the Senate for a second time.
Owerri zone is the stronghold of the PDP in Imo State, after its strength had waned minimally in Orlu and Okigwe zones firmly controlled by the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.
This is as authoritative sources said that Senator Samuel Anyanwu may have concluded plans to return to the Senate in 2023.
Anyanwu, popularly called Sam Daddy, had shelved his second term senatorial bid in 2019, and vied for Imo governorship. He lost the party’s guber ticket to Hon.Emeka Ihedioha, who went ahead to win the 2019 guber elections.
Anyanwu, according to sources, say has set his sights on returning to the Senate after a first stint, where he emerged Chairman of the powerful Ethics and Privileges Committee of the Senate.
He has revived his political machinery in Owerri zone and has maintained renewed visibility in the media lately, which signals his readiness for the 2023 Senate race.
To strengthen his moves, he had embraced reconciliatory moves in the party in the state, reconciling with his political foe, Ihedioha.
Former Secretary to Imo State government, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, is alleged to be rolling up his sleeves to also join the Senate contest for Owerri zone.
Though his close aides have consistently denied such moves, Onyeagocha’s body language easily gives him away as one eyeing the Senate seat.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Onyeagocha has remained vocal for the party, at a period many PDP chieftains are in the cooler since the APC/Uzodimma led administration came on board.
A party source told INNONEWS “Uche had nursed the ambition of running for the Senate even when Ihedioha was governor of Imo State. And since Ihedioha was removed office, he is still nursing that ambition. Though he will not openly admit so.
“When Senator Onyewuchi was simply asked to show his much trumpeted projects to the media by Imo newspaper editors, Onyewuchi’s camp quickly panicked and accused Onyeagocha of sponsoring the media men.
“That tells you that Senator Onyewuchi’s camp is very suspicious of Onyeagocha’s moves to run against him for the Senate. The duo are blossom friends, but I can tell you, both of them are nursing the same ambitions
He is is alleged to be keen to return to the Senate for another four years, after representing Owerri Federal Constituency for eight years.
Senator Onyewuchi, this newspaper was informed, enjoys the backing of some top leaders in the party in the zone, whom he has continuously “serviced”, to the detriment of foot soldiers of the party, whom he has abandoned for a long time, including those who had toiled for him, and which he has systematically neglected even before he went to the Senate.
Owerri Patriots, a socio political organization, had last month passed a verdict on the senator and described his representation as “inept”
The group in a statement signed by Ernest Akujuo and Boniface Eke, Chairman and Secretary respectively said “Owerri zone will leave Egypt in 2023, because we are not impressed with the quality of representation of the zone at the senate, which is below the expectations of majority of the good people of Owerri zone”
INNONEWS
