Alex Mbata, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo East Senatorial candidate, is highly favoured to win the Senate race for the zone, based on preliminary survey carried out by a socio political group, Imo Awareness Coalition, IAC.
The IAC survey report favoured Mbata to win the polls in Imo East on the basis that “he is, at the moment, the most visible candidate among the other contenders for the seat, having made appreciable presence in the nine local governments in Owerri zone.
According to the report, “Mbata towered above other candidates such as Uche Onyeagocha of the peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi of the Labour Party, in acceptability and visibility in the zone, despite the fact that the duo remain old political horses, having been on the political turf of the zone since 1999.
Part of the report stated “Mbata is the most visible candidate for Imo East Senate race, his image has permeated the nooks and crannies of the zone via massive publicity and aggressive awareness/sensitization programmes which has translated to exceptional and overwhelming acceptance of his candidature among the major hub of the voting population in the zone.
“Mbata came into the Owerri zone Senate contest, on the strength of his several empowerment programmes, which has benefited thousands of men, youths, women in Owerri zone who constitute over 95 percent of the voting population in Owerri zone.
“Mbata is riding on the disposition of voters in the zone, who now place emphasis on the quality and capacity of candidates and not on the political parties.
“Despite the fact he is running for the Senate for the first time, against an incumbent who is seeking a second term, Mbata has raised the tempo, intensity of the contest.
“He has also considerably over shadowed other candidates and has become not just a major contender, but one, just one step closer to emerge victorious in the senatorial election.
“Random survey conducted in parts of the nine local governments recognized Mbata’s contributions in areas of human empowerment in Owerri zone, which is adding up to several factors, working in his favour to clinch the Senate seat of Owerri zone.
“Mbata is earning a high rating over other contenders, as random survey conducted in December last year, show that six in every ten persons with Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, in Owerri zone , will vote for him in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly elections