With Imo governorship election expected to hold in late 2023, it has been observed that some political gladiators in the State are already making moves to contest.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP- new entrant into the Imo political landscape- the Labour Party, LP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, are expected to be the four major political parties that will field formidable candidates to jostle for the governorship of the State.
However, the political success of the four political parties will be influenced or dependent on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election which holds in February next year.
Analysts contend that despite the fact the outcome of presidential elections in the country in the past have never influenced the governorship election in Imo State, it will certainly boost the confidence of the governorship candidate of the party which wins at the centre.
With Imo guber election being an off season or stand alone election, the intensity of the contest is expected to be fierce and intense, thus will attract the search-light of all and sundry.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has been the ruling party in Imo State since 2014 and it appears the most formidable political party in the State, in terms of structure, spread and strength.
Governor Hope Uzodimma is expected to seek a second term in office and all indications point to the fact that he will be the sole contender for the APC governorship ticket
In the PDP, former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha and PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu are expected to be the leading aspirants for the party’s governorship ticket.
The duo had jostled for the party’s guber ticket in 2019. Ihedioha defeated Anyanwu at the party primary to emerge the flagbearer and eventual winner of Imo governorship election.
Despite his removal by the Supreme Court after seven months in office, Ihedioha is said to have commenced preparations to return to Government House, Owerri.
Senator Anyanwu has also signaled his readiness to contest again by reviving his political machinery.
He appointed a new Director General and Secretary of his political machinery- Divine Mandate Movement, DDM, a move adjudged to be designed to propel his governorship ambition.
It is unclear if more aspirants would declare their governorship ambition in the PDP, considering the fact Ihedioha and Anyanwu have raised the stakes and dominated the race even before the whistle for the contest is blown.
Political observers contend that the Labour party will be the destination of many governorship aspirants especially those who may not find political solace in the APC and PDP.
Chief Martin Agbaso, a front-line politician in the State had dumped the APC for Labour party where he is drumming support for the party’s presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi.
It is unclear if he is eying the governorship of the State again after previous attempts in the past. His next moves would be dependent on if the Labour party would continue to be formidable in Imo State if Peter Obi loses the presidential contest in February next year.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, a serial governorship aspirant, may also roll up his sleeves to run for Imo governorship after several failed attempts in the past.
Though he is a member of the APC, his son, Ifeanyi Araraume Jnr, had emerged the Labour party Okigwe zone Senatorial candidate after he failed to clinch the senatorial ticket of the PDP.
Araraume’s next political voyage remains unknown after he lost Okigwe zone Senatorial race to less fancied Paul Ibezim.
Other possible guber contenders include 2019 Action Alliance, AA governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu.
Nwosu, though has remained in APC, may move to another political party to realize his ambition.
His political foot soldiers are currently in APGA and the PDP, jostling for various elective offices, fueling speculations that the former Chief of Staff, Government House, Owerri, may possibly join APGA in the future to drive his governorship ambition.