By Onyinyechi Amakaulo
As the New Year beckons, one particular activity that will dominate year 2019 is the general elections. Since 2018, signals that this year will witness a robust political activity abounds with the fast approaching election.
Trumpeta takes a look at the politicians that will shape 2019 polls in Imo. Leading the crème-de-crème of politicians in the state expected to shape the hemisphere, is Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Apart from his enviable position as the governor of the state on the very last lap, Okorocha is the leader of APC where his membership has become a suspect by a group who had earlier battled him to a Standstill over his desire to capture the party structure and produce his son in-law and former Chief of Staff as successor. The governor has been witnessing turbulent times since last year culminating in the factionalisation of the APC.
Okorocha will be the man to watch out for after earlier boast of retiring some politicians in the state opposed to his desire to not only control APC affairs in Imo but foist his son in-law on the populace as the successor. As a sitting governor, Okorocha has powers to control electoral forces. Armed with enormous cash and goodwill to hoodwink the people, how he goes about the contest will shape the election even as he has the ticket of APC for Orlu zone senate. Another factor that will make Okorocha the man to look out for is the condition of APC and his sympathy for APC where the son in-law, Uche Nwosu is running as the governorship candidate.
Okorocha has not hidden desire to back Nwosu in AA. How he will be for Buhari in APC for presidency and work for his election before plotting for the downfall of the APC governorship candidate Hope Uzodinma in favour of Nwosu further marks him out as the main actor to watch.
ACHIKE UDENWA: The former governor who is of the PDP would want to make a bold statement 12 years after leaving Government House, Owerri. He is strongly behind the party’s candidate, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and is working with the structures he has to return PDP to power. Udenwa’s fire power is blossomed by his vow to fight against Okorocha’s attempt to have Nwosu as successor. Despite losing Orlu zone senate under ACN in 2011, Udenwa has tried to reconstitute his structure with old allies and would want to relaunch himself into action. Unlike in the past, Udenwa has been talking recently and would play active role in 2019.
ARCHBISHOP OBINNA: The fiery cleric may not be a politician but somehow involved in how well the politics is played for the good of the masses. The Archbishop of Owerri Diocese has antecedents that cannot delete his name among those to shape the 2019 election even as his capacity to utilize the church to sway votes cannot also be underestimated. On several occasions, he has been accused of being partisan and reasons for such allegations may come to play in 2019.
Obinna has been part of the Imo force kicking against Nwosu’s ambition based on certain issues. And as the progenitor of the Catholic Debate for governors, the man of God is another top shot to watch out for.
TONY CHUKWU: Without any known affiliation to a candidate, the business mogul, Tony Chukwu has been interested in the affairs of the state with style.
The Ehime Mbano born federal government contractor has been part of any party at the centre and controlling the state government. Putting down his feet on who becomes Okorocha’s successor after kicking against Nwosu will make him a relevant factor in the coming general election.
ARARAUME, UZODINMA, IHEDIOHA, NWOSU, OHAKIM: The aforementioned governorship candidates cannot also be ruled out. Their eyes are on the number one seat and as such are vital to what becomes of the state in 2019.
