13 months to the governorship election in Imo State, the stage for the contest is almost getting set with some prominent politicians in the State already signaling interest in the contest.
Strong indications emerged at the weekend that 2019 Action Alliance, AA governorship candidate and son in law to former Governor Rochas Okorocha, Uche Nwosu, a front-line politician in the State, Chief Martin Agbaso and a former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly,, Kennedy Nwagwu, will join the Imo governorship race.
Last week, a former member of House of Representatives, Mrs Juliet Obasi, and Hon Emeka Emeyonu, joined the contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Young Progressives Party, YPP, respectively
Nwosu has not officially declared his governorship aspiration, but sources close to the former Chief of Staff, Government House, Owerri, told this newspaper that “it is certain and concluded that Nwosu will embark on a second missionary journey to Government House, Owerri”
“ There is no doubt that Uche Nwosu will contest for governorship in 2023 and it is very likely that he will come over to the Labour party if the legal and political fireworks in the APC in the state does not favour his camp in the long run” the source said.
Nwosu had remained in the APC despite the complete take over of the party structure in the State by Governor Hope Uzodimma, and efforts to speak to him on his guber ambition were futile.
Another likely governorship aspirant in 2023, is Chief Martin Agbaso, who has clearly shown signs that he will contest for Imo governorship.
Agbaso, an experienced political war horse, almost won the race to Government House, Owerri in 2007, until the Maurice Iwu led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, cancelled the guber polls.
He is a strong backer of Labour party presidential candidate, LP, Peter Obi, whose aspiration has spread like wild fire beyond the South East and across the nation. He is said to be planning to run on the platform of the Labour party.
Newspaper reports in Owerri also reported that a former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Kelechi Nwagwu, has rolled up his sleeves to join the governorship race in 2023.
It is unclear which political party the former number three citizen would use to further his aspiration.
Other serial governorship aspirants expected to join the fray after the 2023 general elections include former Governor of Imo State, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume