Innocent Ekeh joined his colleagues in the present Imo State House of Assembly a little bit late. At the end of the April 28, 2011 Governorship/House of Assembly election in Owerri West LGA, a clear cut winner for the seat of the state legislature could not emerge. The election was declared inconclusive. That decision hanged the ultimate desire and fate of Eke otherwise known as Obulimba of the Master Chef fame.
Obulimba from Ihiagwa came into the scene when he became APGA flag bearer for the position in 2010/2011 election. The battle was a straight fight between Henry Onwukwe fondly called Apiti of the PDP.
The ensuing bye-election to determine the eventual winner was grabbed by Obulimba who joined elected lawmakers to make laws and motions for the people of the state. Obulimba is among the few present APC lawmakers who turned their backs to APGA after getting the party’s ticket and victory package in 2011.Obulimba undoubtably did not come to the hallowed chambers to okay any motion or bill on the floor of the House proposed by others. He did not also come to watch others represent the interest of their constituents without caring for the people of Owerri West. The owner of Master Chef has proved his mettle by registering his presence in the state Assembly. If a head count of lawmakers whose constituents have felt their presence in the lawmaking body, nobody will forget Obulimba. Apart from lawmaking and doing other businesses of the house, Eke has engaged in constituency reach out to empower some Owerri West people.
Having tasted power and driven by the rumoured promise from the state governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha that automatic ticket awaits any APC House Member to seek any position of his choice come 2015, Obulimba who was said to be at cross roads over next party platform, is appearing as a major contender to the position again, but this time in APC platform.
Obulimba is also reported to be driven by the power of incumbency since he may have garnered some cash to prosecute the next election.
By seeking another tenure, Obulimba is likely going to stir the hornest’s nest as reports of his second term bid is trailed by serious opposition even in his APC camp. The odds working against Obilumba is that non of his predecessors have managed to get a second term regardless of party and bloc.
From Gas Amadi to Ikenna Elezianya and Ukachi Amaechi, the idea of second bid has always been a mirage to seekers. So Obulimba may be swimming against the tide in his come back bid. In this era of miracles projected by few pastors, Obulimba can begin fast and prayer sessions to break the yoke and earn a second term. But if the avalanche of aspirants warning up from Owerri West is anything to go by, then the Owerri West law maker has an uphill task to contend. Coming from his political bloc and APC to challenge him for the position is a popular candidate named called (Victor Onyewuchi Ikonne) . available records have it that Oweeri West operates a three-bloc sharing formula for political positions. The position is rotated among Umunwaoha, Ochie and Ara blocs. The first person who started is GAS Amadi from Ochie, Elezianya from Umunwaoha followed, while Ara had Amaechi. In 2011, Oche re-started with Obulimba and expectedly odds favour Umunwaoha in 2015. But recent reports have it that APC may not imbibe the zoning formula hence Ikonne from Nekede, (OldRoad) is strongly pushing forward to replace Obulimba. Ikonne who is running under APC is transversing the length and breath of the area for support is turbo charged to give Obilumba a run for his money in APC House of Assembly primaries. Though both are from Oche, Ikonne is said to be moved by the fact that no person has had two tenures and APC may not enshrine rotational system in choosing candidates for 2015 election. Again, his contacts and relationship with the powers that be in the state, especially in Govt House, having played a major role in the settlement of a part of land dispute government took from Nekede people is his strenght. It was gathered that the deal fetched Ikonne some cash to prosecute his campaign. Again the land deal is causing him trouble and source of blackmail at the home front
Irrespective of the steadfastness of Obulimba and Ikonne, Umunwaoha clan seems not to be disturbed about their interest as a reasonable percent has signified interest to run for the election.
From Umunwaoha is Jaja Amobi from Orogwe who is running under APC.
Others are of PDP stock, like Okey Ozuzu, (Ohii), and Noble of Irete as well the CJ Ihemedu. Among pack, Ihemedu stands tall having garnered enough political exposure. A lawyer, Ihemedu is a former Development Centre Coordinator.
It has been difficult discussing the member representing Ngor Okpala state constituency, Emeka Nwofor because the member seems to have been hibernating since he came to the state Assembly. Believed to be one of the luckiest persons to have political fortune through the ballot box in 2011, Ngor Okpala no doubt is a predominantly PDP LGA if the number of political heavy weights and gladiators from the area are to be reckoned with. Who-is-who in Ngor Okpala politics is said to be packed in the party. I will lose enough space trying to reel out their names. However, prior to 2011, the schisms in PDP divided the rank of the party with a break away faction led by grassroots mobilizers and political oracles in Ngor Okpala; Okenze Obinna and retired Col Lambert Ihenacho moving to defunct ACN which made the LGA a centre to watch in that 2011 election. The fierce battle for House of Assembly was between PDP’s Obinna Egu and the ACN candidate leaving a relatively Nwafor at the back ground to benefit later from the altercation. When the April 28, 2011 Governorship House of Assembly election in Ngor Okpala could not hold and following the victory bell ringing in the camp of Owelle Okorocha ahead May 6, 2011 supplementary Election, all support swayed towards APGA and that threw up Nwafor’s chances to be in the House of Assembly after the bye-election. Not much has been heard from him again. Assembly correspondents do not have reports about his contributions on the floor of the House and even his constituents claim his traces cannot be located in the political hemisphere of Ngor Okpala as a lawmaker.
While Assembly members are discussing about their next political destination, Nwofor was alleged to have expressed that he is only grateful to God to have made it in 2011 and it could be better to save whatever he made for other flourishing business than relaunch a second term bid that could be capital-intensive.
However, the lawmaker from Amala is said to have made a volte-face by warming up again. Informed sources close to him said that since other APC lawmakers are throwing in their hats into the ring for an election battle based on the believed arrangement of automatic second term ticket promised them for joining the party, Nwofor is in the race.
So far, one person, Ugochukwu Okere, the TC chairman may sholve Nwofor aside for the APC House of Assembly ticket. Blackky as Okere is called seems to be the anointed fellow for the APC ticket. Blacky from Obike is said to be enjoying the support of APC stakeholders in the area especially his cherished political mentor, and commissioner in Okorocha’s cabinet, TOE Ekechi.
In PDP, the list is endless with Charles Abara (Obike) Chijioke Churuba (Imerienwe) Leo Okere (Imerenwe) and former party’s flabearer Obinna Egu, (Umuohiagu) dictating the pace. Egu lost to Nwofor in the last election. He is said to be on the race again maybe to have his pound of flesh form Nwofor. However, Abara seems to be favoured because of popularity and sheer acceptability.
Another member wanting to attain the ranking status in Imo State House of Assembly is Chino Obioha. Obioha put the name of his former party, ACN on the map of parties who had elected lawmakers in Imo Assembly until recently when he joined PDP at the expiration of ACN, where he is warming up for 2015.
Obioha can be said to be among the lawmakers whose performance so far is still under scrutiny. What he has managed to showcase recently is only about two vehicles he dished out to two of his able lieutenants who were his campaign managers in the last dispensation in ACN. The action is probably meant get their support for 2015
The general feeling in PDP is that what brought him back to the party was that his political godfather and election match maker in Njaba politics, Chief Chris Ohuruzo known as Ishimmiri who was instrumental to his journey to the House is back to PDP. Despite Ishimmiri’s return, Obioha will face hurdles that choked him in 2011 PDP primaries. That obstacles forced him to join ACN .
The issue of zoning between Njaba North and South that will also call for power shift in the House of Assembly is another worry facing Obioha. The need to replace Obioha warranted the coming of LGA chairman, Eddy Ikwubuo. Otherwise known as Agunechemba from Uba Umuaka I ward.
Remarkably, a reasonable number of people are gearing up to challenge Obioha. Among them are Demian Ezeh from Amakor community Umuaka Ward 111 said to be new in partisan politics, he will be running in PDP as well as a popular transport mogul, Victor Ojinaka of Veno Tours. Also very knew in politics Veno Tours may want to translate his success in transport business to delivering democracy dividends to Njaba people. He is using APC platform. He is from Obeakpu, Umuaka ward 111. From APGA is Leo Oforji who is based abroad. The Assembly aspirant is from Isi Ozi Akah of Umuaka Ward 11. Sam Jack Okoro is an experienced politician among the pack having served as former TC Chairman and SA during Udenwa era. He has an advantage of political exposure and recent contracts of the road of Attah Okwudor Road and Nkume Atta Road under Rescue Mission. The completion of the project is a big plus to his dreams after gaining profit and popularity under Rescue Mission government. He will be running under APC and from Atta Njaba ward 1.
A former council chairman, Chibi Agbasi is not left out. Formerly of PDP and later ACN, the Atta Njaba born is yet to declare but there are signs he will run in PDP.
Okwudor people are not left out. They out number other areas with B.I Umelo of APC. A former council chairman aspirant under APGA in the past, the man fondly called Nwachinemere, Oganihu Njaba is a former banker turned politician. Also from Okwudor is Hope Ekezie, though new in politics but loved by youths in Okwudor and Njaba. He is of PDP. A former supervisor of the LGA Chuks Ekezie is of APC, Mrs Uju Owudiwe, believed to be a close associate of Rochas, is also of APC. Others in APC from Okwudor are Vitus Opara, Paul Duru, Philip Mgbumuohaike, Alex Ndukuba a former PDP House of Assembly aspirant now of APC and Owen Njepuome of APC.
