The victory of Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has led to a rise in the public rating of the party in Imo State.
Obiano’s victory has really given fillip to APGA stakeholders and members who believe that the feat achieved in Anambra State during the governorship election will be replicated in Imo State in 2015.
Some APGA stalwarts who spoke to this news website said APGA has always been a political party loved by the people of Imo State as experienced in 2011 when Governor Rochas Okorocha used the party’s platform to win the governorship election.
Chief Fred Maduka, a leader of APGA in Owerri West LGA said even before Okorocha won the governorship election in 2011,Martin Agbaso was coasting home to victory in 2007 before retrogressive forces cut short his victory.
He said“These are clear indices to prove to you that the people of Imo State have been pro APGA for a long time. APGA had won previous elections in the State but its victory was manipulated by political parties, such as the PDP which was in power at that time. “APGA is the people’s party not only in Anambra State but in Imo. We have always won elections in the State”
“The victory in Anambra State has once again showed that it is the party to beat in Imo State because we still attract the Igbo sentiment. The people have seen the difference between the APC which is a northern political party and APGA which is propelled by Igbo sentiments.
“ The APC has failed and with the Anambra victory, Imo people now know that APGA can still win elections again despite the intimidation and threats of the APC” he said.
Others who spoke in the same vein argued that APGA’s rating has soared since Obiano won his re- election in Anambra State.
Chief Nicholas Ndukwe, an APGA Chieftain said APGA’s popularity has soared in Imo State after Obiano won in Anambra State.
“ You can see that Imo people are fed up with the APC and the PDP. APGA is the alternative party and the people are beginning to see that both the PDP and the APC have all failed in Imo State. “We have won elections in the past in the State and went the extra mile to elect Rochas in 2011. But the people’s confidence diminished when they saw that APGA could not protect their votes, but the scenario is different now. You can see that we seeing a level playing ground in the political system and that is why APGA retained the governorship seat in Anambra State. Imo State will not be an exception in 2015” he stated.
APGA in Imo State has lately witnessed the entrance of some PDP chieftains such as former Imo PDP Chairman, Alex Obi, former governorship aspirant, Jerry Chukuweke, former commissioner in the State, Charles Onyeagbako, former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha and others.
BY BEN UGWU#