The plot to replace Ike Ekweremadu: will it work?

The plot to replace Ike Ekweremadu as the PDP senator representing Enugu West  crystallises in the throwing up of Ogochukwu Agapitus Umunnakwe Onyema by a faction  of the party backed by Governor Sullivan Chime


For Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President, these are tough times. Many of his  constituents at Enugu West, which he represents at the upper chamber, are not happy  with him. They complain that his being in power at various levels has not impacted  positively on their lives. Even the people of Mpu, where Ekweremadu hails from in  Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, are not pleased with his performance.  They complain that they lack public utilities and cannot travel home due to bad  roads in the area, especially during the rainy season. This is despite their son  having been in government as former Aninri council boss, Chief of Staff to  ex-governor Chimaroke Nnamani, Secretary to Enugu State Government, two-term senator  and Deputy Senate President. To his critics, Ekweremadu is an oppressor whose long  convoy of Jeeps covers them with dust anytime he visits home.

Leading the protest against Ekweremadu is Ogochukwu Agapitus Umunnakwe Onyema, who  has purchased Senate nomination and expression of interest forms from the Peoples  Democratic Party in a bid to challenge Ekweremadu in the senatorial primaries for  the ticket to represent the party in the 2011 election.