The rumoured ambition of Senator Hope Uzodinma to join the Imo Governorship race in 2015 has pitted him against the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
However, Senator Hope Uzodinma has reacted through one of his Aides, Mazi Chinasa Nwaneri that he is not interested in Imo governorship in 2015, but would support any candidate produced by Owerri Zone.
This has rather more angered the Okorocha camp, who believe that Uzodinma should support Okorocha’s second term bid in 2015, since both men are from Orlu zone.
But Imo Trumpeta learnt that Uzodinma is hinging his support for Owerri Zone in 2015 for equity and again since Okorocha has not yet indicated any interest or approached him for any second term ambition.
Okorocha’s camp is not happy with Uzodinma over the insinuation that he is one of the PDP stalwarts supporting the Imo elected Council Chairmen, both morally and financially, in their battle to reclaim their offices abrogated by Okorocha.
The Okorocha camp is disappointed with this latest act of Uzodinam, especially his stupendous support for Hon Eugene Dibiagwu, during the last month bye – election in Oguta, where PDP humbled APGA.
It was said that if not for Uzodinma’s heavy support, PDP would have suffered defeat in the hands of APGA in the election, as Okorocha had marshaled out plans to outwit PDP.
The Okorocha camp are more surprised with Uzodinma’s present posture as they had hopped that the Senator would support APGA in winning Oguta, as it was alleged that Uzodinma gave covert support to Okorocha during his governorship election.
“Uzodinma supported Okorocha. He gave him both moral and financial support. If not, how can APGA win Uzodinma’s LGA?” A source asked Imo Trumpeta.
It was alleged that it was because of Uzodinma’s covert support for Okorocha that led APGA candidate in the House of Assembly in Oru East, Barr Greg Okemili, to defeat PDP’s candidate Barrister Robert Okwuego, yet PDP won the Senatorial election in the LGA. Even at that, it was said that Uzodinma abandoned Okwuego in his fight to reclaim his mandate from Okemili.
But another Uzodinma’s Aide who wished to remain anonymous told Imo Trumpeta that Uzodinma worked for PDP during the last election, and could not have been happy that an APGA candidate is representing him at the House of Assembly today.
It would be recalled that rumour has been making the rounds that Senator Uzodinma will throw his hat into the ring for the 2015 Imo Guber, since the emergence of Okorocha as governor in 2011, has literally destroyed the zoning formula of Imo governorship. The thinking now is that it would be an all – comers affair, devoid of what political zone of Imo State a candidate comes from.
But has the current denial by Uzodinma allayed the fears nursed by the Okorocha camp? Only time will tell.
