There is war raging in the political House of Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as his Aides square up against one another for various elective positions in All Progressive Congress, APC.
According to reports available to this Newspaper, the personal ambition of some of the governor’s aides are putting him on edge, as he is finding it difficult to be neutral, because he is seen to have sympathy for some, while neglecting others.
The Imo Governorship position is the most coveted, especially as Okorocha has indicated using everything within his power to plant his son-inlaw, Chief Uche Nwosu as his successor.
However, the coast seemed clear for Nwosu until recently, when erstwhile Secretary to Imo State Government, Sir George Eche resigned his position and joined Imo Governorship contest.
Although many see Eche as no threat to Nwosu’s ambition because of the support of his father inlaw, but in politics all things are possible, as no one knows where Eche is coming from.
This situation has heightened the race for APC Governorship ticket, including the fact that the Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere and Senator Hope Uzodinma are all in the race, with Sir Jude Ejiogu.
Therefore, every vote will count during the Imo APC primary, as any gang up against Okorocha’s inlaw by these other Aspirants may spell doom for the Okorocha camp.
In the Federal House, Okorocha is confused as his “Boys” do battle against each other.
In Obowo/Ihitte Uboma/Ehime Mbano Federal Constituency, it will be a do or die battle between Hon Chike Okafor and Chief Emenike, who is said to have Okorocha’s support to dislodge Okafor.
In Ohaji/Egbema House of Assembly slot, Hon Emma Orie, who dumped PDP for APC thinking it will be easy for him to grab a second term is now regretting, as Iyke Uwakwe, former MD of ISOPADEC is poised to give Orie the political fight of his life.
Sources say that Okorocha is more comfortable with Uwakwe than Orie, who has no followers following his poor outing in his first term.
Political war is ragging in the Owerri Federal Constituency, comprising of Owerri North, West and Municipality, over who picks the ticket in the All Progressives Congress APC, to represent the constituency in the Green Chambers.
In the last count, three prominent sons of the Area are jostling for the sole ticket in APC.
They are Hon (Bar) Tony Umezuruike, Chief Obinna Mbata and Hon Chukwuemeka Lloyd. Indications are that the seat will be hotly contested as the trio are putting everything in place to outwit each other in the primaries.
However, looking at the three contestants, Umezuruike seems to have more political experience above others following his early and long romance with political horse tradings.
He started the game early in 1999, when he became Imo Liaison Officer in Abuja under the regime of Chief Achike Udenwa.
Umezuruike who hails from Amakohia was once Chairman of Owerri North LGA, all during his stint in People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
He later ditched PDP for All Progressive Congress. He was at the verge of picking the ticket for Owerri Federal Constituency in 2015, when suddenly, Governor Rochas Okorocha’s brother inlaw, Chief Chuks Ololo, from Egbelu Obube joined the race and was “dashed” the ticket.
Umezuruike bided his time, and just recently was “compensated” with commissionership slot where he headed the Housing Ministry until he resigned a few days ago.
The general notion everywhere is that Umezuruike has paid his dues and deserves to be handed the APC ticket to actualize his long dream to represent his People in Abuja.
Another force in the battle is Chief Obinna Mbata. He was not much known until the Okorocha regime unveiled this Owerri Municipal born politician. Mbata is urbane and have quickly learned the political ropes, so much so that he became the Finance Commissioner for Imo State until he resigned to face the race.
However, Mbata was rooting for Owerri Municipal Assembly Seat until his boss, Okorocha, asked him to gun for Federal House seat.
But many say Okorocha deftly removed Mbata from the Municipal city race, so that Lugard Osuji could go a second term to honour an agreement with Okorocha.
Mbata was poised to defeat Lugard Osuji in the primaries until he was asked by Okorocha to bury the ambition.
Can Mbata survive the Federal House test against Lloyd Chukwuemeka and Tony Umezuruike?
Hon Lloyd Chukwuemeka from Naze, was an unknown quantity until the Okorocha era brought him out from nowhere as a member of Imo House of Assembly.
Unfortunately, Chukwuemeka Lloyd could not make much impact in the Imo House of Assembly, where he is presently a Lawmaker.
Why he decided to move higher baffled many political legislators because many believe he has not done much to grant his ambition to move to Abuja as a Federal Lawmaker.
Many see youth as his added advantage, even though age is just a number in politics.
It is learnt that Lloyd’s driving power hinges on Gov Okorocha, who sources said had promised him a second term following his support to Executive Bills in the Assembly. However, whether direct or indirect primaries, the political fate of this trio lie in the hands of Imo APC Delegates.
