*BY:RALPH EJIMKONYE, CHIDI AMADI*
The hour is ticking.The d day is drawing near. The Imo governorship election is on March 9, 2019.The political landscape is tense and the wind of uncertainty is blowing across the State.
In Owerri zone (Imo East) the clamour for an Imo Governor is high. It’s a case of now or never. The last time the zone produced a Governor was between 1991- 1992.
It was late Chief Evan Enwerem who ruled for a meagre 22 months before military jackboots led by Late General Sani Abacha kicked out Ibrahim Babangida’s Interim National Government contraption.
Since democracy returned to Nigeria in 1999, Orlu and Okigwe zones have produced Imo State Governor. Orlu will be boasting of 16 years on the seat of power when Rochas Okorocha exit on May 29, 2019. Strangely, two sons from Orlu zone are in the governorship race for 2019.Senator Hope Uzodinma (APC) and Uche Nwosu (Action Alliance) are among the front runners in the contest.
From Okigwe zone comes Senator Ifeanyi Araraume (APGA) and a former Governor of the State, Ikedi Ohakim (Accord).
Owerri zone is heading into March 9, 2019 governorship election with multiplicity of candidates determined to win. There are more than thirty candidates from the zone. Three of them have shown relentless determination to succeed.They are Emeka Ihedioha (PDP),Okey Ezeh (SDP) and Tony Nwulu (UPP).
They all hail from Mbaise clan which spread across three local governments- Ahiazu, Ezinihitte and Aboh. They have the largest voting population in the State. Political analysts say the trio have been upbeat on their aspiration and have maintained consistency in their pursuit. Here are brief bits on the three candidates based on alphabetical order.
*Emeka Ihedioha( PDP)*
Ihedioha is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This is his second attempt at the contest after losing the 2015 governorship polls to Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressive Congress,APC.
He was a former Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House House of Representatives.
The vast structure of the PDP across the State is Ihedioha’s major backbone which he intends to leverage on to win the March 9 governorship election.He also has some considerable followership in Owerri zone earning the backing of some elders and key stakeholders in the State who have aligned with his aspiration.
The PDP performed creditably in Owerri zone during the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections winning the zone’s Senatorial seat and four federal constituencies. This further strengthens his chances in the zone, that is if the same factors that earned the party victory in the Presidential election remains the same with the governorship contest.
However, he has fierce contenders from other zones such as Okigwe and Orlu where Senator Ifeanyi Araraume (APGA), Senator Hope Uzodinma(Orlu) and Uche Nwosu (AA) come from respectively.
He has run a relentless campaign across the State which seem to put him in reckoning for the titanic governorship contest.
*Okey Ezeh (SDP)*
Ezeh is the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP. He dumped the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA after the party got itself entangled in a stemming controversy after its governorship primary.
He seems to have withered the storm and has surged on moving his ambition in amazing pace and strength.
An investment banker, Ezeh conceptualized the “Imo Marshal Plan” a robust economic roadmap adjudged to be a masterpiece that would address myraid problems plaguing the State.
He has also elevated himself to be among the serious governorship candidates from Owerri zone. Pundits argue that since none of the 60 governorship candidates have a clear lead over the other before the polls, Ezeh could spring some surprises and make a headway in a contest laden with uncertainty.
Despite the ruling of a Federal High Court which did not rule in his favour on the issue of the party’s governorship ticket, Ezeh remains on the ballot on March 9 and remains hopeful of success.
*Tony Nwulu (UPP)*
Tony Nwulu is a new kid on the block but has shown a surprising determination to become Imo State Governor to the amazement of bookmakers in the State.
Having shattered the power of ethnic cleavages in Lagos State where he emerged as House of Representatives member representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency in Lagos State, he has been adjudged to be among the finest Owerri zone is bringing forth for the 2019 governorship election.
The Ezinihitte Mbaise born lawmaker flies the flag of the United Progressive Party, UPP, a party gradually growing in leaps and bounds. He has made the youths his support base having initiated the Not Too Young Bill which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Having made good start in his debut in Imo politics and the governorship contest, Nwulu has made an appreciable impact which may exceed bookmaker’s expectations.
“Owerri zone is heading into March 9, 2019 governorship election with multiplicity of candidates determined to win. There are more than thirty candidates from the zone. Three of them have shown relentless determination to succeed”
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