*Rainbow Coalition In The Offing Ahead Of 2019 Imo Guber Polls*
*BY RALP EJIMKONYE*
There are strong indications that former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, will unveil a former Commissioner of Women Affairs in the State, Mrs.Ann Dozie as his running mate.
This is as feelers emerged that Ohakim’s Accord Party may be spearheading a “rainbow coalition” that may bring some governorship candidates of some political parties to work together ahead of the 2019 governorship election.
This newspaper had reported last week that some political parties especially those classified as “small parties” due to their low membership and followership in the State may come together to form a united front to confront candidates of the “big four” political parties in the governorship contest.
The big parties rated for their size, strength and structure include the All Progressive Congress, APC, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Action Alliance, AA.
Mrs. Dozie was a former Commissioner in Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration.
She is from Owerri zone, a zone that has produced the highest number of running mates to candidates from other zones.
Since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, Owerri zone has not produced Governor of Imo State.
Former Governor Achike Udenwa who governed the State from 1999 to 2007 is from Orlu zone. Governor Rochas Okorocha is also from Orlu zone.
Ohakim who was Imo State Governor from 2007- 2011 is from Okigwe zone.
He had said he is the only one that can return power to Owerri Zone since he is constitutionally barred from having two terms if elected Governor in 2019.
In the course of pursuing his 2019 governorship ambition, Ohakim had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. He later left APGA alongside 12 other aspirants for Accord Party after a flawed governorship primary.