The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Imo State may lose the political harvest it garnered in the just concluded governorship and State Assembly elections in Imo State as the race for Speaker of the State Assembly begin in earnest.
The Action Alliance, AA also risk losing one of its members, Hon.Lawan Duruji, who won re election to represent Ehime Mbano State Constituency all in the race for the Speaker of the House.
Based on permutations on grounds, there are indications that the next Speaker of the House of Assembly should emerge from Okigwe zone where APGA won five of the six Assembly seats in the zone.
Owerri and Orlu zones produced the State Governor and Deputy Governor with the election of Emeka Ihedioha and Gerard Irona of the PDP. The two zones are technically out of the race for the number three position of the State.
PDP did not produce any state lawmaker from Okigwe zone. Its 11 members elect are from Owerri and Orlu zones. None emerged from Okigwe zone. All its members are coming to the legislative House for the first time.
There are speculations that some of the members elect from Okigwe zone may decamp to the ruling PDP if any of them wants to be the Speaker of the House. This could not be confirmed as at press time.
The issue of of a ranking member becoming Speaker favours Hon.Lawan Duruji of the Action Alliance, AA who is making his second return to the House. He is from Okigwe zone.
All APGA members elect are first timers. They are Chidi Ogunaikpa (Okigwe), Paul Emeziem (Onuimo), Micheal Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte Uboma), Collins Obi (Isiala Mbano).
A chieftain of the PDP in the State, Mr. Ebere Osuji said the Speaker will emerge from APGA or AA and from Okigwe zone in line with the tenets of fair play and equity which the newly elected government of Emeka Ihedioha represent.
“Okigwe zone must produce the Speaker. Since there is no PDP elected member from the zone, the party has to poach from APGA and AA. I think the PDP will be comfortable with APGA” he said.
