A new dimension of politicking is at the moment enveloping the All Progressive Congress, APC, Imo State Chapter as well as the camp of the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha ahead 2015 election.
The centre of attraction is the race for who carries the flag of the party in 2015 governorship election should the incumbent Okorocha decides to go ahead with his presidential quest for next year’s election.
After much speculations and political permutations about the next political destination of Okorocha, in 2015, serious indications that the Imo governor is throwing his hat into the ring for the Presidential race emerged during the week when he marked his 52nd birthday amidst pump and pageantry.
To showcase his desire, Okorocha invited all the LGA APC chairmen in the country as well as the National chairman of the party, John Odigie Oyegun to witness the event where he reiterated intention to run for the number one position.
Having declared intention to run for the Presidency in 2015 and following changes observed in the time table for the party’s primaries scheduled for the coming months, Trumpeta learnt that pressure was put on Okorocha to begin search for a possible successor who will carry the APC flag should he finally join the presidential race.
In line with Trumpeta report, Okorocha had wanted to play a gamble with the presidential and governorship positions. Details made available to the newspaper indicated that his intention was to run for presidential primary which will come first to bargain for Vice Presidential slot and if unfavourable will slide backwards to run for the governorship race.
But the changing tide where the presidential election will now come last in APC time table for closing party flagbearers has put the governor in difficult position.
Trumpeta learnt that Okorocha is in a dilemma on how to combine the title chase for 2015 election.
Apparently worried about the fate of APC in Imo as it concerns next year’s governorship election since no person has shown interest among the pack of frontline members of the party, Okorocha who may have reserved the position for continuity sake is said to have commenced search for a possible front runner for the race.
Top sources from Government House, Owerri revealed that to avoid entering political limbo as a result of indecision, a search party for a probable guber aspirant on the platform of APC has been raised.
The committee is made up of members of the inner caucus of the governor’s ruling cabinet and family members who dictate pace of governance in Imo.
The source who preferred anonymity disclosed that Okorocha is at the head of the search party for the successor adding that several factors are being considered as a yard stick to consider the would be successor.
Trumpeta learnt that some persons are being considered and several security and acceptance checks are being considered before looking at the possible persons that would fly the ticket of the party.
It was further gathered that APC die-hards from Owerri zone serving in Okorocha’s cabinet are being watched and earmarked as possible considerations even as no name has been mentioned.
The reason for considering Owerri zone people is based on the earlier promise Okorocha was said to have made to Owerri zone people in 2011 that he would only run for one tenure and handover to a person from Owerri zone extraction.
Meanwhile, the wife of the governor, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha has allegedly been tipped as the Deputy Governor designate to anybody who will emerge APC governorship flagbearer outside Okorocha.
The source revealed that since Okorocha will pay Owerri zone people back with handing them APC ticket, his wife from Orlu zone will graciously be handed over the Deputy Governor ticket.
Despite several denials that she is not involved in partisan politics and interested in election, Mrs Okorocha is said to be cajoled and induced into becoming running mate to the would be governorship candidate of APC. Several factors were considered by those in Okorocha camp for considering Nneoma as a worthy Deputy Governorship candidate. Apart from her amiable disposition and altruistic tendencies, her feminine gender and upcoming political sagacity is a winning point to draw supporters.
It would be recalled that Okorocha had publicly declared that his main opposition to the position is the wife who has a veritable political structure to challenge the men folk to the governorship position. Nneoma Okorocha would have been considered for the governorship but for zoning and feminine status.
To still keep her as a moving force, the Deputy Governorship position is said to be reserved for her ahead 2015 election.
Meanwhile, available information reveals that the Deputy Governor, prince Eze Madumere and Chief of staff, Jude Ejiogu as well as one of the commissioners, Barr Alaribe are on the watch list of the governor’s teams for consideration as APC flagbearer.
