If reports reaching this newspaper are anything to go by, then the Speaker of the incoming 9th Imo Assembly may emerge from Orlu zone (Imo West).
This is the thinking among some top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State though not the official position of the party at the moment.
The quest for a Speaker for the incoming House has been raging on, two clear months ahead of the inauguration of the House in June.
There is worry among party leaders that Okigwe zone which is supposed to produce the Speaker has no elected PDP House member.
The 6 members elect from Okigwe zone are of the Action Alliance, AA and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
The PDP has no elected member elect from the zone. Newspaper reports had claimed on Tuesday that the party leadership are scared of a possible gang up by non PDP members to overturn the selection of a Speaker in their favour.
Both the AA and APGA collectively have 14 members elect, while the PDP have 13.
Orlu zone have four PDP members elect. They represent Orsu, Oguta, Oru East and Oru State Constituencies. The party’s searchlight may beam on the zone.
Owerri zone is out of the equation since the State Governor elect is from this zone.
Howeve, all the four members elect from Orlu zone are first timers.
But since there is no rule or law stating that only ranking members must hold the position of Speaker, the PDP members elect who have a slight majority in the House may be skewed by the party leadership to go for one of their own as Speaker from Orlu zone.