Okorocha's Second Term Ambition: Deputy Governor, Chief Of Staff In Fresh Rift Over Running Mate Slot

L:R: Dep. Gov, MADUMERE, COS, EJIOGU

Despite keeping an eye on the Vice Presidential ticket of the All Progressive Congress, APC with the option of vying for the Governorship of the State for a second term, a cold war is brewing again in Government House, Owerri, over who runs as Okorocha’s running mate in the coming elections.

It will be recalled that Okorocha’s Deputy and core loyalist, Eze Madumere and his Chief Of Staff, Jude Ejiogu have been widely reported to be involved in a battle of supremacy.

The intensity of the cold war then was who will succeed Governor Okorocha as Governor in 2015, following strong indications that Okorocha was bent on contesting the APC presidential primaries.  

A ceasefire however ensued when the Governor ostensibly sensing that the APC was bent on fielding a Northern candidate and someone from the South West as Vice Presidential candidate decided to soft pedal and opt to run for a second term as Governor of Imo State.

Despite his renewed his desire to vie for the VP slot of the APC in recent times, Okorocha is believed to have concluded plans to run for a second term as Governor and will only drop the ambition if current political polemics in the APC favours his Vice Presidential  bid.

With this posturing, this blog learnt that a fresh war has began between the current Deputy Governor and the Chief of staff over who will be Rochas running mate in 2015 guber polls.

The Chief Of Staff, Ejiogu, is speculated to be interested in the slot having allegedly surrendered his ambition to represent Owerri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives to Okorocha’s in – law and Chairman, Owerri North LGA, Engr. Chuks Ololo.

A group, Owerri Federal Constituency Political Movement led by Ejiogu’s protege, Barr. Umezuruike, believed to have the backing of the Chief of Staff had embarked on quiet campaigns to drum support for the APC and the Chief of Staff within Owerri Federal Constituency. At such political outings, the group was silent on the ambition of the Chief of Staff but never failed to highlight his (Ejiogu’) political prowess

Though, some aides loyal to the Chief of Staff have denied any rift  between their boss and the Deputy Governor or anybody for that matter, his body language tend to suggest that he has a  political ambition.

In 2011, he was member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, where he lost vied for the Reps seat but was defeated by Chief Gibson Njemanze (Oyiga) at the party’s primaries.

Oyiga served in Okorocha’s government as Mayor of Owerri but resigned after 6 months.

 

Ejiogu has warmed himself to the heart his boss, becoming a clearing house, thus reducing the potency of the Deputy Governor who has been a long standing friend and ally of Governor Okorocha.

Eze Madumere is known to have served Rochas for more than 18 years, having served as his Chief of Staff before his elevation to Deputy Governor of Imo State after Jude Agbaso was impeached for corruption charges by the Imo State House of Assembly.

Government House sources however claimed that all is well with the duo as they are working closely to ensure the success of the rescue mission administration, but did not rule out any possibility of political rift as the 2015 elections draws near.