As the 2019 governorship election draws close, three governorship candidates are in hot chase for consideration and necessary backing.
In the last two days, a powerful group in Owerri zone, Olu Owerri had intensified plans to get governorship candidates eying Government House, Owerri in 2019, to forge a united front if the zone must realize the task of producing the next governor of Imo State.
The idea of a consensus candidate was muted at the meeting but it was unclear if the candidates will bulge since such plans had crumbled in the past. The media was completely shut out from the gathering thus giving room for wild speculations.
Owerri zone is coming with a determined resolve to elect who takes over from Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2019 after failing to produce a Governor since the return of democracy in the country in 1999.
While consultations are said be continuous, this newspaper stumbled on reliable and credible information that three governorship candidates out of more than 20 from the zone may be shortlisted for consideration.
The request is said to be coming on the behest of some political leaders in Orlu and Okigwe zones who are disposed towards backing Owerri zone’s desire to succeed in its latest political mission.
It was unclear which of the candidates may make the cut but there are indications that each of the candidates must be acceptable not only in Owerri zone but also marketable in Okigwe and Orlu zones.
A source who is in the know of the ongoing power play told this newspaper“Shortlisting the three candidates from Owerri zone is a first step. Leaders of other zones will look at the candidates and come up with their criteria for support. It is an ongoing process and we are looking at a lot of political variables involved in the process
It would be recalled that Olu Owerri is working in harmony with other socio political organizations such as Olu Okigwe and Orluzurumee in a bid to have a “common candidate” capable of winning the next governorship election in 2019.
The three groups are encapsulated with other socio political groups across the State which led to the formation of the Amalgamation of Imo Professional Bodies and Associations, AIPA.
AIPA was unveiled in December 2018 in Owerri.
The Amalgamation consists of Olu Owerri, Olu Okigwe, Imo Town Unions, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Independent Newspaper Publishers Association(INPA), National Youth Council of Nigeria Imo chapter, NANS, NAIS, Amalgamated Traders Union and members of the Imo NUJ.
