Three political parties in Imo State will fight for the 27 House of Assembly seats at the State Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 18.
Candidates of the three political parties had campaigned vigorously to earn the votes of registered voters in the State.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, which is the ruling party, would be up against formidable opponents in the Labour party and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the APC won two senatorial seats – Imo West and Imo North-, while the Labour party clinched Imo East.
However, the race for the Assembly seats is a different ball game, as the APC will work so hard to retain majority seats in the State legislature, which would serve as a boost to Governor Hope Uzodimma’s second term bid.
Political analysts in the state contend that anything short of an impressive victory for the governing APC, would shatter whatever political calculations it has to retain Imo State.
The PDP is expected to use the Assembly polls to resurrect, after fumbling and wobbling in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, winning only one House of Reps seat and no senatorial seat.
Its performance in the March 18 State Assembly polls would determine if it will make strong a come-back in its quest retake the seat of power in the state during the governorship election.
The Labour party has become a major political force in the state, winning the presidential election, securing one senatorial seat and winning more than four House of Reps seats.
This underscores its political potency and ability to spring surprises on March 18, though it is believed it achieved such feat on the wave of Peter Obi, its Presidential candidate, who was widely accepted and massively voted for by the Imo electorate.
With the Obi factor completely out of the political scenario ahead of the State Assembly polls,how Labour party will excel is yet to be deciphered as the party continues its push to establish itself as one of the leading political parties in the State.
