Ahead of the November 11, 2023, governorship election in Imo State, some governorship aspirants have begun serious moves to realize their ambition.
This is as indications emerged that three political parties- the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Labour party-, are expected to be fierce contenders for the 2023 Imo guber battle.
This newspaper observed that in the APC, Governor Hope Uzodimma, is expected to emerge the governorship candidate of the party in the state.
Already, Uzodimma has begun political moves to oil his second term ambition, one year to the polls.
He had rejigged his cabinet, employing more than 30 Commissioners, mainly ‘political technocrats’ and appointed 305 Liaison Officers in the 305 wards, which are expected to serve as foot-soldiers of the governor in the hinterlands.
Reports say each of the ward Liasion officers were paid N100,000 each after their inauguration by the Governor last month in Owerri.
Also, local media reports claim that over 40 buses, designated for campaign purposes, are being branded with the governor’s image in a location in Owerri, signaling his readiness for the electoral contest next year.
In the Labour party, Jack Ogunewe, a retired General of the Nigerian Army, is waxing strong having recently appointed and inaugurated ward and local government coordinators across the state.
At the moment, the General is the only visible governorship aspirant in the Labour party in Imo State amid speculations that Chief Martin Agbaso, who is the co- coordinator of Obi/Datti Movement in Imo State, may equally join the race after the February 25, 2023 general elections.
In the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, despite the internal crisis rocking the party over the composition of Imo PDP presidential campaign council, two leading governorship aspirants have already emerged exhibiting overwhelming confidence and capacity.
They are former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha and the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
The duo are political cat and mouse divided by irreconcilable political differences hinged on the battle for the soul of the party structure ahead of the party’s guber primary next year.
Ihedioha has revived his Rebuild Imo campaign group from the state to the ward level and recently appointed his former Commissioner, Meekam Mgbemelu, as his spokesman.
Senator Anyanwu has set up his Divine Mandate team bringing on board seasoned politicians to push his ambition.