Uncovered: Politicians In Imo State Begin Consultations, Set Up Political Structures For 2019

 Three years to the next political dispensation in Imo State and in the country, some politicians in the State have begun noticeable political moves and consultations geared towards actualizing their political ambitions.

INNONEWS.COM had reported early this week that three politicians in the All Progressive Congress, APC are eying the 2019 governorship contest.

Further investigations carried out by our team of reporters indicate that it is not only in the APC in the State some politicians have begun their subtle moves to contest but such moves are also noticeable in other political parties in the State.

 It was gathered that in the APC, one of the politicians who is interested in taking over from Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2019 has been meeting key stakeholders and leaders in various local governments within his federal constituency. The politician was a onetime influential figure in Okorocha’s government before their political romance went sour.

 This newspaper had also reported that another APC leader in the State who is also interested in 2019 has taken over the payment of the monthly stipend of APC ward executives as a major strategy to woo party members who have been cash strapped for a very long time.

This politician runs a foundation and our findings reveal that the foundation has roared back to life giving massive support and assistance to the poor, the needy and the less privileged in the society.

Another contender in the party has equipped and mobilized his loyalists in various local government "to spread the message of his governorship ambition" as he now frequently attends social events and political  functions where he quietly passes the message for a change of governance in the State in 2019.

This newspaper decided to conceal the identity of these intending governorship hopefuls in the APC after one of them pleaded to our reporters after a conversation that “ it will be politically dangerous for him if INNONEWS.COM report now their clear intentions to become governor of the State since the polls are three years away”  

In the PDP, it is evidently clear that there are three emerging aspirants for the office of the governor for now. More are expected to come up.  

The ongoing battle for the control of the party structure has been attributed to the quest by intending politicians to oil their respective governorship ambitions. And none of the contenders have bothered to conceal the aspirations though they have openly admitted they are vying for any elective office in 2019

It has been widely reported that a former federal lawmaker, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha is interested in contesting for the governorship seat of the State again on the PDP platform in 2019 after losing to Rochas Okorocha of the APC in the 2015 governorship election in the State. 

He is reported to be neck deep in the struggle to have his men elected as party executive members across the party in the State. Ihedioha has been visible in almost all important political functions in the State and has begun to mingle more with the grassroots which has been interpreted to as a "political move" for the big contest in three years time.

A serving senator in the State, Senator Hope Uzodinma has also been speculated to be interested in the contest. He has not openly made his intention known but his political foot-soldiers are also mobilizing loyal party members to emerge as party executives at all levels.

A group, Mainstream Orlu in a statement recently  claimed that the “big masquerade is out” for the contest ostensibly backing the governorship ambition of the Imo West senatorial zone senator.

A former Governor, Ikedi Ohakim may be staging come- back to Government House, Owerri judging from his public utterances at political events in recent times. He had accused the State governor, Okorocha of scheming to install his kinsman as successor in 2019.like others he has not opnely admitted that he is interested in the contest.

In the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Okey Ezeh who put up a fierce struggle to wrestle the party’s governorship ticket from former Minister of Interior, Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho in 2015, is also rumored to be interested for a comeback in the guber race.

Ezeh has been lately involved in youth empowerment programmes for some tertiary institutions in the State. His close aides say such programme has no political colouration. Several efforts by FORUM OF IMO NEWSPAPER EDITORS, an association comprising newspaper and online editors in Imo State to speak to him on his perceived ambition has not been successful.

It was unconfirmed if the 2015 APGA candidate, Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho wil contest again but a close source to the sailor admitted that “the option is not ruled out for now until further consultations are concluded”