The battle on who takes over from Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has taken a new dimension with front runners for the seat in the Rescue Mission camp, the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere and Chief of Staff, Government House, Owerri, Uche Nwosu adopting new strategies to outwit the other.
The duo have not publicly indicated their interest in the position but their body language have given them out as leading contenders in the Governor’s camp so much interested to take over from Governor Okorocha in 2019.
Aside consultations and persistent support drummed by various pressure and political groups for their aspiration, the duo have resorted to a fierce scramble for the soul of the APC in the state securing endorsements from the 27 LGA chapters of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
This newspaper learnt that no fewer than three local governments have given out their endorsements for the duo in what appears a desperate attempt to secure the backing of party stakeholders before the contest goes full blown.
Early this week, Uche Nwosu was endorsed by the APC chapter in his Nkwerre Local government area. The same goes for Eze Madumere who represented Governor Okorocha at the South East APC stakeholders visit to President Muhammadu Buhari earlier this week.
Madumere was also recently endorsed by the Mbaitoli chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC who said he is eminently qualified for the governorship of the state in 2019. Ironically, Nkwerre and Mbaitoli LGA chapters of the APC that endorsed Uche Nwosu and Eze Madumere are the local governments which they come from.
Ikeduru LGA chapter of the party have also thrown their backing to the Chief of Staff which may spill over to other local governments.
Rising from a meeting attended by stakeholders of Ikeduru APC chapter on Tuesday evening , they unanimously endorsed Nwosu as their only candidate maintaining their unalloyed support and strong desire and readiness to ensure he responds to the clarion call.
Those in attendance include APC chieftains in the area Chief Charles Amadi,(Charvon), a former commissioner of Information,Hon. Obinna Nshirim, communications mogul, Chief Hon Ifeanyi Opara who made a huge cash donation in support of the project.
The Mbaitoli chapter of the party in a statement backed Eze Madumere for the plum job as they presented him as their sole candidate for 2019 governorship election. According to a statement by Uche Onwuchekwa, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, the event took place at the country home of the Deputy Governor, Lake Malinda, Achi, Ezi Mbieri local government area of Imo State.
The statement reads “The party executive members from all the twelve wards of Mbaitoli led by the local government Chairman, Barr Tony Amadi were received by the chieftain of the party, Prince Marcon Nlemigbo and other prominent leaders of the party in zone”
In a similar vein, Nkwerre APC LGA chapter also unanimously endorsed Nwosu as the sole candidate for the 2019 governorship election.
The decision was taken at Nkwerre where party members said they have a strong conviction that Uche Nwosu should vie for the number one position in the state come 2019. According to Paulinus Ojukwu, the APC Nkwerre LGA chairman, Nwosu is eminently qualified and can continue the already laid legacies of the Rescue mission government.
This newspaper learnt that further endorsements may come from other local government chapters of the APC in Imo State in what can be described as a rat race ahead of securing the party’s governorship ticket.
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