There is confusion in Owerri zone chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC over the 2019 governorship race.
Investigations by this newspaper showed that there is an uncoordinated effort to achieve the feat as the party leadership in the zone is foot dragging on the matter.
When contacted for comments, APC Owerri Zonal Chairman, Chris Oguoma was not forthcoming to speak on the matter. He however promised to speak to this newspaper at the appropriate time.
Political pundits however argue that the sloppy posture of the APC leadership in the zone over the 2019 guber may be because of Governor Okorocha’s disposition towards having his son- in law, Uche Nwosu as his successor. The duo are from Orlu zone.
The Governor’s body language on who takes over from him in 2019 seem to putting undue pressure on party leaders in Owerri zone who are being careful not to offend the Governor or seen to be opposed to his interests.
With Congress coming up in February, there are indications that Okorocha in a bid to strengthen his succession plan is bent on ensuring that his loyalists retain key and strategic positions in the party structure in the State notwithstanding the fierce opposition from the Ifeanyi Araraume camp.
Araraume had visited Owerri municipal On January 4 where he held talks with his followers.
The “hide and seek” approach of the party leadership in the zone is a clog in the wheel of progress for Eze Madumere, the Deputy Governor who is not relenting on his ambition to take over from Okorocha in 2019. Despite array of governorship aspirants from the zone, Madumere for now appears the most formidable though his dependence on his boss for his political survival may equally shortchange his chances in picking the party’s governorship ticket.
This newspaper observed that some party leaders in the zone are foot dragging on the issue of having an Owerri zone candidate as Imo APC governorship candidate. Virtually all party leaders from the zone contacted by this newspaper to speak on the issue posted one flimsy excuse or the other why they will not speak on the subject for now.
This clearly reveal that despite their disposition to have an Owerri zone governorship candidate, the quest to secure their positions in the party structure during the congress appears to be of paramount interest to them.
However, it was gathered that the Zonal leadership of the party visited the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere at his Achi Mbieri home in Mbaitoli LGA on New Year Day where they echoed the need for the zone to produce the next governor of Imo State in 2019.
