Baring unforeseen circumstances, the governorship election in Imo state may take place in October or November 2023.
12 months to the contest, aspirants interested in the race have emerged.
This clearly shows that more aspirants will join the fray after the 2023 general elections to be held in February.
Last week, Mrs Juliet Awa Obasi, a former member of the House of Representatives, had declared her intention to contest Imo governorship election.
She said she will drive her aspiration on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, arguing that it is time women politicians enhance their political relevance in order to cancel out men’s dominance in the state.
Hon Emeka Emeyonu, also signaled his intention when he declared his ambition on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, YPP.
The declaration of the two aspirants is a clear manifestation that indeed the race to Government House, Owerri has begun to generate interest and concern.
There are also strong indications that other political parties such as the APC and the PDP, are expected to field aspirants.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is the main opposition party in the state, is expected to be the battleground for many aspirants who will want to take a shot at Government House, Owerri.
Already in the party, two political gladiators have showed clear readiness that they will leap into the contest any time from now.
Former Governor of the State and one time Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has rolled up his sleeves in readiness for the contest.
Ihedioha, is seeking a return to Government House, Owerri, after seven months spending seven months in office, which was brought to abrupt end when he was removed by the Supreme Court and replaced with Senator Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Another likely contestant, is National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who has already set up a campaign structure to oil his governorship ambition.
Anyanwu had aspired to be governor of the State in 2019, but lost the PDP governorship ticket to Ihedioha.
The Labour party which has become a third force in the nation’s political firmament, is expected to produce aspirants for the governorship contest in the State. This is however dependent on how the party fare in the forthcoming general elections.