Ahead of the 2023 political dispensation, Imo State born U.K based political analyst, Newton Eze, has predicted the political fate of key political players in Imo State.
In two page article sent to INNONEWS, Eze predicted that Governor Hope Uzodinma will seek a fresh term, though a fierce battle looms in Imo APC. He said former Governor Ihedioha risks losing some of his allies in the PDP.
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The dynamics which will shape Imo politics is already playing out. All things being equal by next year, the spade work for 2023 politics in Imo State will begin.
Already, the permutations are playing out and it takes one with an eagle eye to decode what may happen in the political arena of Imo State in 2023/24.Judging from present political realities and if all outstanding legal hurdles are exhausted, Governor Hope Uzodinma will seek a fresh term.
His alliance with Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, is a deft political move by the Governor. If he can preserve former allies of Okorocha who have pledged to work with him, then he must have covered enough political grounds in the party.
If the APC eventually clinches Okigwe Senate seat, then it is a go -go for both Uzodinma and Nwajiuba. Any cracks envisaged in the future between the duo? Well, nothing is cast on stone since nothing in politics is certain.
There will be renewed intense political battle in Imo APC before 2023, though the outcome of Congress either on or before December 2020, will determine the direction of the party.
Former Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume are expected to renew their battle for the soul of 2023 in the party. Senator Okorocha risks losing a return ticket to the Senate in APC if Uzodinma’s men stay in charge of the party.
As it is now, he may not fully reconcile with Uzodinma before the next polls except something concrete happens. A billionaire businessman, who had vied for Imo governorship in 2006, may be drafted into the race for Orlu senate in 2023. And he is most likely to bow to the pressure.
Araraume will rely on his backing by powerful forces within the party such as Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi to make further push. He may end up having a “soft landing”, even if his quest to go to the senate ends up in smoke.
Uzodinma is expected to retain grip of the party in the State because State Governors in the APC are expected to be indispensable allies to “deliver”whoever President Buhari anoints to succeed him.
In the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, will retain total control of the party.
However, the battle in the party will be among his loyalists who will scramble for various positions when the chips are down. Those who are dissatisfied or who fail to get endorsements for one elective position will cross over to the ruling party. There may be a huge political war in Owerri zone PDP if certain political polemics eventually manifest. How Ihedioha manages the political interests of his allies will rub off on his guber ambition.
The guber contest of 2023/2024 will be predicated on who is the fittest. Uche Nwosu camp may have head back to the Action Alliance, AA, if there is no level playing ground for him to go for another guber contest in the APC.
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