Overview
- Wakayama prefectural LDP chair Masatoshi Ishida told party headquarters that an internal survey showed majority support or acceptance for Representative Hiroshige Seko’s return after he left over the Abe-faction slush-fund affair.
- Ishida met with LDP secretary-general Shunichi Suzuki to report the result and said the prefectural chapter and Seko signed a written confirmation on future cooperation to present a local reconciliation.
- The prefectural chapter has not released the detailed results of its intention survey, and Ishida declined to disclose how many officers backed or opposed the move.
- The party headquarters has said it will follow formal procedures for any readmission, and some LDP figures in the Upper House have signaled reservations about handling the matter during the current Diet session.
- If the prefectural endorsement holds, it could strengthen Seko’s path back into the party locally and reshape candidate coordination in Wakayama, but the final decision and any party discipline remain under central party review.