The forthcoming 2023 governorship election in Imo State is creating suspense and anxiety in the political firmament of the state as gladiators jostle for the tickets of the various political parties.
Already, two candidates – incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – have emerged.
Uzodimma is from Imo West senatorial zone, which produced Governors Achike Udenwa (1999 to 2007) and Rochas Okorocha (2011 t0 2019). He was the only aspirant on the platform of the APC and won the primary on Friday.
Anyanwu is from Imo East senatorial zone. He won the PDP governorship midweek.
Last week, Ihedioha, who was removed as governor by the Supreme Court on 15th January 2020 after being in office for seven months and 18 days, wrote the PDP acting national chairman, notifying the party of his withdrawal from the governorship race. He cited injustice and unfairness in the party as his reasons.
Ihedioha’s move paved the way for Anyanwu, the current National Secretary of the PDP, to win the party’s governorship primary.
Given its showing in the presidential election where it scored 77.13 percent, there is an intense battle for the ticket of the Labour Party (LP). Many political watchers are wondering whether or not the LP can produce a governorship candidate capable of stopping Uzodimma’s second term quest.
So far, 12 governorship aspirants in the LP are eyeing the incumbent’s position. The number would have been 13 but for the death of Chief Humphrey Anumudu.
Out of the 12 aspirants, three are from Imo North Senatorial zone, eight from Imo East, and one from Imo West.
They are Senator Athan Achonu (Imo North); Charles Onyirimba (Imo North); Ike Ibe (Imo North); Martin Agbaso (Imo East); Chief Joseph Ukaegbu (Imo East ); Kelechi Nwagwu (Imo East); Dr. Basil Maduka (Imo East); Engr. Chinedu Amadi (Imo East); Assistant Inspector General of Police Charles Agomuo (rtd.) (Imo East); Captain David Mbamara (rtd.) (Imo East ); Major General Lincoln Jack Ogunewe (rtd.) (Imo East); and Dr. Tochi J.Ehirim (Imo West).
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is yet to present any governorship aspirant. The outcome of the 2019 governorship primary may still be echoing, in addition to a raging crisis at the national level over the chairmanship of the party between Chiefs Edozie Njoku and Victor Oye.
Four years ago, the party’s governorship primary, which was allegedly marred by injustice, rigging, and intimidation, produced Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, who hails from Imo North senatorial district.
At the moment, only three parties – APC, PDP and LP – are in the race for the governorship election scheduled for 11th November.
