UCHE EKWUNIFE UNLIKELY TO RETAIN SENATORIAL SEAT AS CRACKS IN PDP WIDENS.

by Edozie Maduagwu

It is no longer news that the leadership crisis rocking the already shrinking fortunes of the People’s Democratic Party, has taken another dimension with the composition of the G5, a group of 5 PDP State governors threatening to boycott the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections if the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, fails to concede to their demands particularly the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

The G5 governors led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, also have Governors Seyi Makinde, Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; of Oyo, Abia, Benue, and Enugu State respectively. These States where hitherto considered strongholds of PDP in southern region in the past elections, but the party’s fortunes are now dwindling and dissipating like a puff of smoke in the eerie eyes of an avid tobacco addict.

In the eye of the storm is the PDP Senator representing Anambra Central, Uche Ekwunife, who has always been a great benefactor of the political patronage and influence of Peter Obi, before he left the PDP few days to the presidential primaries to become the standard bearer of Labour party in the forthcoming elections. As political cohesion and unity continues to elude PDP ahead of the general elections, muted reactions are pointing at the possibility that candidates of the party aspiring for both national and state assembly positions particularly from the south east and south south region would fail woefully.

Senator Uche Ekwunife having overstayed her usefulness in the national assembly, is finding it an uphill task to get reelected as the popularity of Hon. Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo, her major contender continues to soar higher. Hon Nwankwo, the current member representing Anaocha/ Dunukofia/ Njikoka federal constituency, is considered a prime replacement of Uche Ekwunife at the red chambers. Among the disaffection peddled against Uche Ekwunife’s candidature was her lack of performance and seemingly failure in the national assembly for years.