Hopes dwindle for sacked appointees in Imo State as Governor Hope Uzodimma gears up to unveil a new cabinet, with reports indicating that many former officials may not find themselves back in the fold.
Amidst anticipation, Governor Uzodimma has reportedly earmarked fresh faces, some from outside the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, for key positions in his administration.
While the constitutional deadline looms for the appointment of a new cabinet within 60 days, former appointees of the Governor had clung to optimism of a reinstatement.
However, their optimism wanes as a recent directive instructs them to surrender all office keys to the Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs Bureau, Cabinet Office, Owerri, by February 16, 2024.
The directive signifies a departure from past practices, where sacked officials retained office access in anticipation of a possible return to power.
Governor Uzodimma’s sweeping purge on January 16, 2024, saw over 500 aides, including state commissioners, relieved of their duties, in a move that reshaped his administration .
Since then, the governor has remained absent from the state, reportedly awaiting the completion of government house renovations before he returns.