By Peter Uzoma
With the House of Assembly over, the race for principal office positions in the Imo State House of Assembly election has been thrown open with the member elect for Ikeduru State Constituency, Uche Ogbuagu and Mbaitoli counterpart, Barr Okey Olekamma favoured to grab the Deputy Speakership position.
Ogbuagu and Olekamma are of the PDP who are in majority in the House that is yet to be inaugurated and billed to pick the position.
Trumpeta learnt that based on the template for choosing of strategic positions in the state, an Owerri zone legislator shall emerge the Deputy Speaker.
Ogbuagu and Olekamma are from Owerri zone. Both were considered on the premise that in sharing of principal office positions, the Speaker goes to Okigwe zone while Owerri and Orlu get Deputy Speaker and Majority leader respectively.
In Owerri zone that has three blocs comprising Mbaise/Owerri, Ngor Okpala and Mbaike (Mbaitoli/Ikeduru) only Mbaike where Ogbuagu and Ikembara hail from are left out in sharing of appointment. While Mbaise has produced the governor in Emeka Ihedioha, Senator-elect of Owerri zone, Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi is from Owerri bloc, leaving Mbaitoli/Ikeduru bloc with the Deputy Speakership position.
After his election was declared inconclusive at the end of the March 9th governorship/House of Assembly election, the rerun produced Ogbuagu winner, thereby setting the stage for the battle to grab the position between him and Olekamma.
