BY RALPH EJIMKONYE
Mid way into the life of the Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration, some of the Governor’s appointees, have already shifted their attention to occupy elective offices in 2023.
The race for Owerri Federal Constituency seat is not left out, as some appointees of the Governor from the sub zone in the All Progressive Congress, APC, are already warming up to take over the seat from Hon. Ikenna Elezianya of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
About four of the Governor’s appointees, two serving Commissioners from Owerri West and Owerri North respectively, a Special Adviser to the Governor from Owerri Municipal, another Special Adviser from Owerri North strongly linked to one of the leaders of the party in Owerri zone, have secretly commenced consultations geared towards succeeding in their next political adventure in 2023.
Though they are keeping their ambition under wraps, this newspaper was informed that they have begun strategic political moves by holding strategic political meetings and energizing the APC in their domains, thus preparing the ground for the realization of their ambition.
A source who revealed to INNONEWS the political ambition of some of the appointees said “Already some of them are using the patronage that flow from their various offices to settle their political foot-soldiers, who will aid them realize their ambition of clinching the ticket of the APC for the Reps seat
“Most of them are relying on their relationship with the Governor, whom they believe will determine who gets what when the scramble for elective offices begin in the party. One of them is banking on his father’s closeness to the Governor as a basis to clinch the APC ticket for Owerri Federal Reps seat
However, it is unclear if the factor of zoning in the party will play a key role to determine which of the three local governments that constitute Owerri Federal Constituency, will produce the next member of the House of Reps.
Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi (now Senator) from Owerri North represented the Federal Constituency from 2011-2019. Hon Ikenna Elezianya from Owerri West was elected as representative of the Federal constituency in 2019. He is the current holder of the position. The duo are of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Inside sources said the issue of zoning may not be feasible on the basis that the APC cannot adopt or follow the pattern of the PDP in choosing who will represent the Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 2023.
Aside Owerri Federal Constituency, media reports last week speculated that more than half of the Governor’s appointees are nursing the ambition of occupying various elective offices in 2023.
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