Imo Guber 2023: Major contenders depicts desperado, revive structures, make strategic plans
By Everest Ezihe
As political activities heat up, there are glaring evidences that major contenders for the 2023 governorship election in Imo State, have began the race in earnest, depicting desperado and making strategic moves in readiness for the contest which will hold by November next year, after all.
For now, the game is seen by political pundits and analysts as three-horse game justifying the strong signals that the incumbent Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma of APC platform, former Governor of the State, Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of PDP and PDP National Secretary, Senator Samdaddy Anyanwu, will certainly run for the number one top job in the State.
As at now, the trio are adjudged as the key contestants, by the time they officially declare their governorship ambitions probably by first quarter of next year, the game may change as more aspirants are expected to throw in their bouts in the race to Imo State Douglas House.
However, Jack Ogunewe, a retired Major General that hails from Ezinihitte Mbaise ancient clan and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon (Mrs) Juliet Obasi, had last month announced their capacity and willingness to be the state governorship hopeful in the next political despensation, on the platforms of the Labour Party and APC respectively.
It’s a religious truth that more governorship aspirants are expected to join the fray before the close of 2022 or first quarter of 2023.
Analysts however contend that Governor Uzodimma is expected to pick the guber ticket of the APC, when he eventually declares his second term bid, considering his body language and that of his lieutenants.
Many believe that the Governor has begun moves to actualize his second term. Part of the moves, is the recent inauguration of Liaison officers for the 305 wards in the State and payment of 100k to each and every one of them.
At the inauguration of the Ward Liaison officers held at Government House, Owerri last week, he implored them to defend the policies of his administration at the grassroots as ambassadors of the state government.
More so, the state government recent 4 days lavished hosting of the members of Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE is said to be part of the game plans of winning the sympathy of Nigerian media towards the second term bid.
The State political pundits have also observed that the recent approval by the State government to be paying monthly stipends to the President Generals, Youth and Women Leaders of each of the 645 autonomous communities in the state as part of the strategic game plans of grass roots sensitization and mobilization for the APC lead state government
However, there are strong speculations that Ward Liaison officers are agents of the APC and the governor, established to market his second term bid, the numerous programmes of the APC, using his achievements as unique selling points at the grassroots.
In the Peoples Democratic Party. PDP, former Governor of the State, Emeka Ihedioha, recently revived his Rebuild Imo team by appointing key officials for the team expected to drive his return bid to Government House, Owerri.
Last week, he named his former Commissioner, Meekam Mgbemelu, as his campaign spokesperson. For sometime now Ihedioha and his supporters have made it a point of duty to be attending social functions from one community to another and their participations are treated as social media tigers.
In a related development, PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu who for years now not hide his desire to govern Imo State through his Divine Mandate Campaign Organization had reinvigorated his campaign structure and appointed his key political loyalist Hon. Ngozi Ogbu, as Director General of his Divine Mandate campaign team, to aggressively market his aspiration to be Governor.
