Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Senatorial and House of Representatives’ aspirants, who lost out in the recent controversial primaries on the platforms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State, have defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to pursue their political ambitions.
Among the defectors to SDP is the former senatorial aspirant for Imo East (Owerri zone), in APGA, Onyemauche Igbokwe, and former House of Representatives aspirant for Owerri zone, Dan Ikpeazu.
The state Publicity Secretary of SDP, Chilos Godsent, who made the disclosure yesterday, also told Daily Sun that the party is currently having talks with some aspirants from the APC, who also, lost out in the primaries of the party.
Although, he refused to mention the name of the APC aspirant planning to rekindle his senatorial bid in SDP, he assured that his entry would not exceed this week.
READ ALSO: 2019: South West may get SGF if Atiku wins – Daniel
“He is one of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s ardent supporters, he is presently having talks with us; as soon as this is finalised, we would make it official,” he said.
Meanwhile, there are fears that the governorship candidate of the party, Cashmire Anyanwu, may lose the ticket already given to him by SDP to another prominent politician planning to defect to the party, to pursue his governorship ambition.
But, Anyanwu, while speaking to Daily Sun, debunk standing in for a particular aspirant.
Although he admitted that he had been inundated with calls from party loyalists in the state on the rumour, he, however, insisted that he is still in the race to win.
“I am as surprised as you are; I got several calls from Imo asking me if its true that I am planning to step down for someone.
“Why should I , when I have a credible party like SDP.
“We are known for integrity; that is why I can never disappoint my people. I am in the race to win and not to step down for anybody,” he insisted.
He, however, disclosed that his aim of joining the governorship race is to alleviate poverty level in the state, as well as bring desirable change that would turn the economy of the state around.