Battle of ‘hot’ contenders: Top 5 candidates who may win Imo governorship election
Hours to the 2019 governorship and national assembly elections, major political stakeholders in Imo state have spoken on the chances of their parties, highlighting the reasons why they believed their governorship candidates will emerge the winner on March 9.
With a total of 70 candidates, Imo state has the largest number of governorship aspirants in this year’s general elections. Analysts, however, believe that only five out of the 70 candidates have realistic chances of becoming the next Imo state governor.
They are: Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ugwumba Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA), Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Senator Ifeanyi Araraume of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Ikedi Ohakim of the Accord Party (AP).
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Prince Casmir Iwuh, president-general of Umunokwu Okwuato Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise LGA and a chieftain of Action Alliance (AA) described the Imo 2019 governorship election as a tough battle of five ‘hot’ contenders.
“If you asked me, I will say this is balance of terror. The five candidates have all what it takes to emerge as the next governor of Imo state,” he told The Guardian.
“This is the first time these five leading politicians in Imo state are in five different political parties. Before now, it used to be one of them pitched against the others. This year’s peculiar outlook is what distinguishes it from the previous elections.”
The spokesperson of Emeka Ihedioha Campaign Organization, Barrister Kissinger Ikeokwu, also believed the election is going to be tough.
“Certainly, it is not going to be easy because so many issues are on the front burner,” he said.
The APC director of new media who also was a past president of Nguru Umuaro community in Ngor Okpala LGA, Cajetan Akuta, also spoke about the chances of the APC in the election.
Akuta said: “Uzodinma’s emergence was a child of necessity. At a point, the challenge was, ‘who could stop Okorocha from imposing his son-in-law as the APC governorship candidate?’ Mind you, if Nwosu, the governor’s son–in-law, had emerged on the APC governorship ticket, he might be inches away from succeeding his father-in-law. On that note, Uzodinma took over the gauntlet and dusted Okorocha and Nwosu to pick APC governorship ticket.
“It was not the issue of zoning but of redemption. In other words, we are talking about a candidate who can both beat Okorocha to his own game and at the same time revive and rebuild Imo State and that candidate is the APC hopeful, Uzodinma.”
Barrister Charles Ezekwem, the PDP chairman in Imo state, believed his party will win the election and gave insights into how the election would be won and lost, specifically considering the implications of zonal politics.
He said: “As we all know, there are five strong governorship candidates for the 2019 election in Imo. Out of the five, two are from Okigwe zone namely Ohakim and Araraume. The point here is that both men will cancel out each other even as other candidates, especially Ihedioha of the PDP will make their presence felt.
“In Orlu zone, Uzodinma and Nwosu will equally settle scores while other candidates will equally make separate points. However, the scenario will be a different ball game in Owerri zone because it is only Ihedioha and he will garner over 85% of the votes. When this plays out as it’s bound to happen, PDP and Ihedioha will be dancing in victory when the results are declared.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of APGA in Imo state, Barrister Peter Ezeobi also boasted that Imo electorate had settled for APGA and his candidate, Araraume.
He said: “Ndigbo seem to have realized that the only way out of their present political quagmire is to look inwards, hence they have embraced APGA. That was why Governor Willie Obiano was re-elected in Anambra state. He won in all the LGAs. Look at the mass movement called APGA in Abia. Look at the party in Imo State and you will agree with me that APGA is the party to beat in Imo 2019 governorship election.
“Araraume is a grassroots builder with both state and national contact. He has the capacity and capability. As a matter of fact, APGA will occupy Imo State Government House from May 29, 2019."
Nevertheless, the director of media and publicity of the Uche Nwosu Campaign Organization, Comrade FCC Jones, believed that AA will emerge the winner on March 9.
He cited his reasons: “You see, Imo people have seen all the other four candidates and discovered they have nothing to offer, hence they are now on the side of the youthful and enterprising Nwosu.
“For instance, Ohakim ruled Imo State for four years; he performed badly and Imo people voted him out. What is he coming to do again? Just vengeance.
“Araraume was in the Senate for eight years. Let him publish the laws he made that attracted Federal Government’s presence to Okigwe zone in particular and Imo in general. What of Ihedioha? He was in Abuja for 12 years and was deputy speaker for four years. The best he did was to antagonise Imo masses with siren.
“Then, Uzodinma. He is a ranking Senator till date. We know all the scandals dangling around his neck- the $200 million alleged contract scam in Calabar, as well as the N20 million alleged dud cheque. He has chaired several committees in the Senate and we challenge him to tell us what he did with them for Orlu zone and Imo people. The truth is that Imo has no option than to vote for AA and Ugwumba on March 9.”
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that Uche Nwosu expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious in the Saturday, March 9, governorship election.
Speaking at a rally at the Dan Anyiam stadium in Owerri on Thursday, March 7, Nwosu promised never to disappoint his supporters if voted into office.
“A few years ago, if anyone had told me that I’ll be standing amongst you to contest for the highest office in the land, the office of the executive governor of Imo state, I would never have believed it," Nwosu said.
“Who is Nwosu in the first place, and who is little me to touch the hearts of the entire Imo people as the right man to serve them in this magnitude.
“The only way that I deem fit to repay you is to promise never to let you down if elected."
He thanked Governor Rochas Okorocha who he described as his political father and mentor for backing his governorship ambition.
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Why Governors Steal? Rochas Okorocha of Imo State | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
