The much awaited time has come to determine the next Senators and House of Reps Members for Imo State. After pre-election hassles, voters with their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, are expected to file out on Saturday, the 28th of March, 2015 to cast their votes for candidates of their choice for the National Assembly elections.
In Imo, it will be an interesting debacle as 34 candidates of various political parties will be involved in hot pursuit of only available three senatorial positions; Imo West (Orlu zone), Imo East (Owerri zone) and Imo North (Okigwe zone).
For the House of Representatives, the official release from INEC indicates that only 87 persons will be battling for the available 10 federal seats scattered across the three senatorial zones of the state.
OWERRI ZONE:
For the senatorial position, only one incumbent, Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo West (Orlu zone) will be seeking a back-to-back chance to be at the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly. Uzodinma’s contemporaries, Senator Christy Anyanwu (Owerri zone) and Matthew Nwagwu (Okigwe zone) are already saying goodbye to the colourful Red Chamber as they have no tickets again to contest.
Uzodinma of the PDP will face an arduous task of returning to the Senate, no thanks to the avalanche of contestants seeking his position. The rivalry posed to the Senator’s ambition which began during the PDP primary has been carried over to the main contest coming up this weekend. Ironically, the PDP aspirants who stood against Uzodinma’s way to grab the party’s ticket are also part of his main challengers in the real contest.
Felix Chidi Idiga of the Accord Party and Ezeani Nnamdi ThankGod of APGA were forces Uzodinma dusted during the PDP primary. The final showdown will determine whether Uzodinma’s PDP primary election victory was a fluke.
There is no doubt that Ezeani and Idiga’s trip outside PDP fold has further broken Uzodinma’s PDP stronghold as most of the canvassers of the two candidates joined them to their new parties from PDP.
Beyond the Ezeani and Idiga threat is Bonaventure Osita Izunaso, the APC candidate. Izunaso, a former senator lost the senate seat to Uzodinma in the law court when the country’s apex arbiter in judiciary matters, the Supreme Court, confirmed Uzodinma the authentic PDP candidate for Orlu zone in the 2011 election. Izunaso shifted to Okorocha’s camp in APGA in 2011 where they had a brief romance before jumping into APC boat. In APC, Izunaso became the National Organising Secretary and crowned his efforts in the party with a senatorial ticket for Orlu zone debacle. The former senator is ready to give the PDP candidate a run for his money this weekend. It is definitely going to be dicey for all the contestants. Of late, Ezeani is said to be waxing stronger and making major inroads into PDP homestead with his APGA flag while Uzodinma is consolidating in his attempt to repeat the magic that secured him victory in 2011. Idiga is trailing behind and may rely on mother luck to spring surprises. For Izunaso, the bubbling APC structures in the zone coupled with new converts on Saturday, March 28, will be his game plan to come out unscathed after the election.
Others lined up to seek voters mandate are Stanisclaus Chigbuo Chigbuo of APA, Igwe Hope Onyekachi of KOWA and Levi Uche Eke of the Labour Party. MPP has Onuawuchi Blessing Nneka, Anthony Ukagba of PPD and Ada Grace Egbufor of UPP.
OWERRI ZONE:
Only last week, I touched this senatorial zone where I prophesied that it will be a straight fight between the PDP candidate, Sam Daddy Anyanwu and Uche Onyeagocha of the APC. Falling behind for an opportunity are Nneji Paschal Chizoba of APGA, Ifeanyi Chris Anaele of PPA, Kelechi Nwagwu of Accord and perennial contestant, Nze Ben Osuji of UPP.
Judging from projections ahead of the election, the PDP and APC candidates should be warming up to move into Abuja to represent interest of Owerri Senatorial Zone. On paper, Sam Daddy Anyanwu is good to go except he fails to put his acts together and not be able to galvanise necessary logistics to excel. As a two-time member representing Ikeduru State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, the back up SamDaddy will garner from the entire component LGAs will tilt victory to his side.
However, Onyeagocha and his followers will not be idle watching SamDaddy run away with victory after coming so far in the race. Buoyed by the power of incumbency of the state governor which is a morale booster to his ambition, the former House of Reps Member who also came a distant third in the 2011 Senatorial race when he ran under the defunct ACN will be firing on all cylinders to succeed on March 28, 2015.
IMO NORTH (OKIGWE ZONE):
The entrance of Clement Owunna of APGA into the senatorial race is causing ripples in the zone, thereby shaking other prospective candidates singing victory songs ahead the election. Owunna, formerly, APC compliant and a position holder in the Okorocha government called it quits with the broom party when he noticed that the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ben Uwajumogu has been anointed to pick the senatorial ticket of the APC for the 2015 election.
Surprisingly, Owunna, a business mogul who added force to APC in Okigwe zone joined APGA and was handed the party’s ticket for the senatorial zone. One thing going for the Aba-based industrialist-turned-politician is the fact that he is the only notable aspirant from Okigwe North end of Okigwe zone.
After people from Okigwe South comprising Ihitte-Uboma, Ehime Mbano and Obowo had pocketed the position for eight years, the general feeling is that it is now the turn of Okigwe North to produce the next senator. Okigwe North is made up of Isiala Mbano, Okigwe and Onuimo LGAs. Irrespective of the controversies surrounding his birthplace and place of origin of Owunna, the APGA ticket holder, is from Okigwe zone, the ecpected bloc to produce the Senatorial person in the zone.
Besides, his APGA ticket and acceptance trailing his ambition has sent further jitters down the spines of other contestants. What further blossomed Owunna’s chances is the fact that some APC and PDP members in Okigwe North area are seriously showing indirect support to the bid of the APGA candidate. More worrisome is the endorsement and tactical support Owunna is receiving from APC and PDP loyalists from the zone. Having noticed that the major party flag bearers of the APC and PDP, Uwajumogu and Athan Achonu are from Okigwe South clan, the allegiance of some Okigwe North political class now moved to APGA’s Owunna.
The new twist as however turned to another anticlimax for Owunna as campaign of calumny and suspected fabricated lies have continued to trail his ambition. First was an exposure of allegations that he is not from Okigwe LGA and other tissues of tirades propagated by political enemies aimed at painting him in bad light before the public. In the heat of the propaganda, Owunna continued to soar and gain public sympathy likely to shift the victory to his favour. But the war of attrition for Okigwe zone ticket seat seems to be between Owunna’s camp and Uwajumogu’s group. The lingering battle and ego-trip have also put the PDP candidate, Achonu otherwise known as One-Arm General at a great advantage of stealing the show.
One-Arm General who managed to secure the PDP ticket by hair’s breath after defeating Patrick Ndubueze from Okigwe LGA with only two votes is likely to pull a surprise outing if Owunna and Uwajumogu continue their pernicious tackles.
Ordinarily, Okigwe zone is a PDP catchment area if previous records of successes are anything to go by. But recent political developments have shifted permutations to an inconclusive end. Since 1999, the party’s candidates have always coveted the senatorial trophy and if history will repeat itself, Achonu is closer to Abuja to speak the voice of Okigwe zone. However, Ohakim’s loss in 2011 and internal schism ravaging the leadership of the party in the area will hamper PDP success. While Ohakim and another political heavyweight who is in the court to claim the governorship mandate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Araraume, the centre cannot hold between a business mogul and chieftain of the party, Tony Chukwu and Achonu, the senatorial candidate, over unresolved issues. The internal bickering may affect the party’s chances in Okigwe.
Going by current ratings in the zone, Uwajumogu is expected to have upper hand against his colleagues for the senate position. Coming from a PDP background where he was elected House of Assembly member for Ihitte-Uboma State Constituency in 2011, the man with chieftaincy title of Odokaraomee has been able to utilise his political sagacity to gain grounds in Okigwe zone politics. Apart from becoming APC leader in the zone as the highest political office holder, Uwajumogu formed a socio-political organisation, the Okigwe Peoples Political Movement (OPPM) that set the ball rolling for his senatorial bid. The OPPM has united a reasonable number of APC leaders across the two blocs to drum support for Uwajumogu. The Speaker has also gone far in dragging some political heavyweights of other political parties to his side using instrument of office as a weapon. The volte face of former commissioner of Information during Ohakim’s era, Kelechi Okpalaeke and a PDP stalwart in the zone, Max Ikokwu are some of his handiwork. Uwajumogwu has also extended his tentacles to capture more people before the election. However, a recent debate organised for Okigwe zone National Assembly candidates somehow exposed the representative capabilities of the Speaker who was unable to differentiate between an Act from a Bill.
As all concerned parties and stakeholders put finishing touches to their election plans, the job of ensuring free and fair contest rests in the hands of INEC officials who will be on duty at the weekend.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Ahiazu-Ezinihitte Mbaise Fed Const.:
Irrespective of the ten persons carrying party flags for the position, it will be a jig-saw contest between PDP’s Igbokwe Raphael Nnanna and Majority Leader of the Imo State House of Assembly, Adaku Ihuoma of the APC. Igbokwe is one of the few House of Reps Members seeking a second missionary journey but Ihuoma’s ambition may stop the dream. Igbokwe has been able to justify his stay in the House of Reps by attracting dividends of democracy in terms of empowerment and amenities. There is no corner of the federal constituency that has nothing to show for Igbokwe’s four-year legislative exercise in the House of Reps. It was for these reasons he had an easy ride during the party primary. Ihuoma from the same Ahiazu Mbaise LGA will attempt to prove a mettle despite odds working against her. Also not to be relegated are Nwoga Stephen Ibe who is flying the card of APGA. As a veteran in the contest, Nwoga may devise survival strategy to torpedo both Igbokwe and Ihuoma.
OWERRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY
One of the federal constituencies in Imo that will be a delight to monitor during the elections is Owerri Federal Constituency, consisting of Owerri Municipal, Owerri West and Owerri North. Interestingly, none of the candidates of the three major parties, namely: APC, PDP and APGA is a pushover. Furthermore, others running under ACD, SDP and UPP cannot also be wished away with a wave of hand. Tension will be the lot of their supporters and admirers until results are announced. Leading the pack of those who will perfect strategies for the March 28 elections is Dan Ikpeazu of APGA. Ikpeazu, a former councillor who hit limelight when he won the Owerri North House of Assembly seat in 2011 is on the March again. Ikpeazu has been making incursions into the grassroots to gain support. In the same vein, his kinsman from Uratta bloc of Owerri North, Ezenwa Onyewuchi, the incumbent is exploiting all frontiers to retain his position. Both Ikpeazu from OAU bloc and Onyewuchi were of APGA in 2011 but went separate ways when activities heralding the 2015 election heightened. Like a rolling stone that gathers no moss, Onyewuchi moved from APGA to APC before berthing in PDP when he realised that the APC ticket may have been reserved for Okorocha’s in-law, Chuks Ololo. Onyewuchi has also been able to justify his appearance on the Green Chamber of the House of Reps with several signposts showing what he has done for the people of the federal constituency.
Still from Owerri North is Ololo who will battle for OAU votes with Ikpeazu of APGA. Ololo, a consistent Transition Committee (TC) Chairman of Owerri North, since the present Rescue Mission Government came on board, and husband to Okorocha’s younger sister is in the race to make a difference.
The fact that Owerri North persons have come out to seek a fresh term for the Federal House, those from Owerri Municipal and Owerri West have also jumped out for the race. Former Reps Member who represented the federal constituency four years ago, Ernest Ifeanyi Ibejiakor formerly of the PDP has joined the race. The former senatorial aspirant under PDP is seeking the mandate of his constituents again using the SDP platform. Nwandaa as Ibejiakor is fondly called hinged his U-turn on the fact that he was stopped to undertake a second term on the basis that no one should get a second term in the federal constituency. Nwandaa is aggrieved that he was short-changed and ripped off by leaders in the zone in 2011, hence his desire to join the fray. Others that broke away from other parties to run for the race are Nicholas Ishinta Ojinaka of the UPP and ACD’s Anukam Osondu Victor. The election will however be a scintillating scenario considering the fact that three LGAs that make up the federal constituency are part of the state capital where the elite and informed personalities reside.
ISIALA MBANO/ONUIMO/OKIGWE NORTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY:
The incumbent, Matthew Omeghara is on the path of history if APC wins the position. Omeghara will join the ranks of Emeka Ihedioha and Bethel Amadi who have represented their federal constituencies a record three times. Such records can only be attained in the federal constituency if the likes of Obinna Onwubuariri of the PDP and Princess Miriam Onuoha of APGA allow him to have his way again. Best described as infant terrible of Okigwe zone politics, the magic Onwubuariri showcased when he rattled the likes of Simeon Iwunze, Member representing Isiala Mbano in the Imo House of Assembly and Princess Onuoha during the PDP primary is enough warning signal to Omeghara who is said to have braced up for the task ahead. Loaded with mega cash to execute his campaign, the youthful PDP candidate is the man to watch in the elections. Despite the court case hanging on her neck over who has the APGA ticket, Princess Onuoha is waxing stronger and may prove bookmakers wrong in the contest. Another name who deserves mention is Chuks Chukwuemeka, a political appointee during Ohakim’s era, he is running under PPA.
MBAITOLI/IKEDURU FED CONSTITUENCY:
A Bethel Amadi is leaving the office after three consecutive times, the lot will now fall on three possible candidates. Those likely to be beneficiaries are Unakalamba Ambrose Chinatu of APGA, Bethram Okafor of APC and PDP’s Nwawuba Henry Ugochukwu.
Also not expected to be left behind are Temple Onyeukwu and Kemdi Opara representing UPP and SDP respectively. In view of the voting pattern of the federal constituency and looking at the various factors, Nwawuba and I.B. Okafor are favoured for the throne. Many factors will determine the eventual winner. Local interests and machinations of bigwigs in the area will add to the struggle. The state Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere alongside former PDP Chieftain, Marcon Nlemigbo will try the likes of Bethel Amadi, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Humphrey Anumudu for size over who carries the day.
IDEATO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY:
For Dave Emeka of APGA, Chukwukere Austin of APC to PDP’s Pat Udogu, it will be feast of fury. The APC candidate can be said to be sure of the position if Okorocha’s prowess in his Ideato bloc is considered. It will be disastrous if the governor loses his federal constituency to the opposition. The Okorocha threat may force candidates of other political parties to fine-tune strategies of making a mince meat of the governor at the home front. Pat Udogu is not a newcomer to the scene, she will use her experience to wriggle out of the APC choke.
OKIGWE SOUTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY:
One area to watch out for in the House of Reps election is Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma and Obowo LGAs where the APC and PDP candidates will engage in survival war. Sinister signs that trouble is looming in the area began when the supporters of APC’s Chike Okafor engaged that of Nwaoba Blessing in blame trade over billboards destruction. Okafor, a former finance commissioner has softened ground for acceptance as the people’s choice with several self-help projects and philanthropic gestures extended to the federal constituency, while Nwaoba, known as Lady B, is popular and favourite of the masses. The similarities both candidates share as having their senatorial candidates from the same federal constituency makes the showpiece a keen contest to behold.
OHAJI-EGBEMA, OGUTA, ORU WEST FED CONSTITUENCY:
Similar to what is being witnessed in other federal constituencies, the battle in these three LGAs for the Green Chamber will strictly be between two Right Honourables: Goodluck Nanah Opiah and Donatus Ozoemena, a Speaker emeritus and current Deputy Speaker of Imo Assembly respectively. Propelled by his popularity, previous legislative expertise and constituency representation, Opiah is again on the threshold of history. His people, especially the oil producing areas of Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema are yet to forget in a hurry the legacies bequeathed to the people when he was a Member and later Speaker of Imo Assembly. It was through him that the famous Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC and Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo came into place. Judging from a recent endorsement he received from Oru West stakeholders where Ozoemena comes from, there is likelihood that Opiah is on the way to Abuja. The Oru West and sister LGA of Oguta LGA have unanimously resolved that it is the turn of Ohaji-Egbema where Opiah hails from, to produce the next House of Reps Member in order to promote equity, fair play and justice in distribution of the position. Ozoemena will rely on the support of APC and his Oru West brother, Izunaso, who is also running for the senate election same day. Little is known about Obi Greg of APGA who is said not to be properly grounded politically has not done much to be considered for the position.
ORLU/ORU EAST/ORSU FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY:
At last, this will be a grand opportunity for two political tigers of Ebenator Clan in Orsu LGA to test their might and find out the playmaker with the master stroke. All is not well with Stan Dara of APC and Jerry Alagbaso of PDP as both lock horns for the single position of the federal constituency. The deepening rivalry started during their PDP days when both won to represent Orsu in the House of Assembly and the federal constituency respectively. On changing camp from PDP to APC and grabbing party’s ticket, Dara will square against Alagbaso making their Ebenator clan of Orsu centre of action. Though, Dara will be moving against the tide since Uzodinma, the incumbent senator is making a comeback bid to Abuja is from the federal constituency. Uzodinma will pull the strings for Alagbaso in Oru East, his LGA. Again, Dara will face a difficult task having betrayed the confidence of his Orsu PDP members who gave him second chance ticket to represent them in the State Assembly. For Alagbaoso, popularly known as Asiwaju, the ill manner with which he resurfaced after losing party primary to Dibic from Orlu LGA will rob the shine off his expected success. Another member of the House, Greg Okemili, a lawyer is waiting on the wings using Accord Party to break through. Ironically, Okemili is of Oru East LGA.
ABOH MBAISE/NGOR-OKPALA FED CONSTITUENCY:
The big shoe left behind by the exit of Deputy Speaker of Reps, Emeka Ihedioha will be filled by either PDP’s Bede Eke or Mathew Nwogu of APC. Both candidates are outstanding among the hordes of candidates that include a former PDP spokesman, Amajirionwu Blyden of APGA, and LP’s John Jude Uchenna Okere. The manner Nwogu, former chairman of the civil service commission shoved aside another commissioner in government said to be Okorocha’s favourite T.O.E. Ekechi, to grab the APC ticket shows that Eke should guard his loins stave off the Obiangwu, Ngor Okpala-born politician who claims to be an American Attorney at Law but has WAEC as his highest qualification as contained in INEC list. Eke, a two-time lawmaker of Imo State House of Assembly is criss-crossing the length and breath of the two LGAs to garner support. Nothing is heard from Amajirionwu of APGA as well as John Jude who were at each other’s throat over the soul of APGA for the federal ticket. Definitely, the presence of Ihedioha, PDP flag bearer will be felt in the Aboh Mbaise/ Ngor-Okpala election and that means Ekeh is within spitting distance to Abuja.
NKWERRE, ISU, NJABA, NWANGELE FED CONST.:
Undoubtedly, this is the largest federal constituency in the state and one of the hottest spots where the election will be a tight fight among the contenders. Incidentally, the incumbent, Jones Onyeriri is trying to make a comeback despite the obstacles posed by other challengers. Having overcome many aspirants to pick the ticket, Onyeriri is turbo-charged to face challenges from Harrison Nwadike of APC and Accord Party’s Michael Ikoku. But Onyeriri’s trouble will begin from his backyard where Ikoku of All Season fame will attempt to rubbish his chances of clinching the position. Ikoku is from Nkwerre, where a section of the leaders are not disposed to having him again in the Green Chambers of the House. Nwadike is favoured because of his Njaba background. Njaba is yet to produce a Reps Member since 1999. However, Nwadike is on a cliff-hanger as it is being rumoured that person he defeated during the primaries, Ikenna Emeh, a lawmaker of the House has the ticket in his kitty. The intrusion of Emeh is causing brouhaha and hate campaign against APC in the area who are not willing to be part of monkey dey work baboon dey chop type of politics. Nwadike’s supporters are threatening protest votes against APC if Emeh, representing Isu in Imo Assembly will be the beneficiary. Ikoku is hoping to exploit his altruistic manoeuvres to gain relevance even as pundits are of the view that he may be playing a spoiler’s role for Onyeriri in the coming election.
