How APC, PDP, Labour Will Share the Seats
Major political parties in Imo State will on Saturday have an opportunity to test their might of popularity and acceptability at the grassroots level as the House of Assembly Election holds.
After the Presidential and House of Representatives Election held on February 25 and the attendant controversy surrounding it, parties went back to drawing board for another showpiece which would have been held on March 11 but for the shift that extended the election to this weekend.
A preview of Trumpeta newspapers for the House of Assembly contest indicate that it would be another battle front for the major parties showing enormous presence. Apart from the big two; APC and PDP which had dominated the scene in the past, Labour Party is joining as another favourite courtesy of the Peter Obi wave in the 2023 election. Not also left is APGA which had made appreciable mark in the past but seems to be overshadowed by the LP at the moment.
Trumpeta will take a look at how the election would be won and lost by the parties involved with APC, PDP, Labour and APGA getting priced mention.
The permutations will be based on zones.
Okigwe Zone:
Based on the outcome of the National Assembly Elections where the PDP candidate, Rt Hon Jonas Okeke from Ihitte/Uboma won the Okigwe South Federal Constituency position, indication is high that the party may sustain its stronghold of the area to likely grab the position even as APC won’t allow the PDP get away with the victory easily.
In Obowo, the third term bid of Rt Hon Kennedy Ibeh may mar the chances of APC clinching the seat as people of the area would prefer those from other parties from the popular parties like PDP and Labour to stop his 3rd time reelection ambition.
Ehime Mbano is dicey considering the factors that will play out on election day but the three major parties of APC, PDP and Labour are on ground to take the victory.
APC is likely to carry the day in Isiala Mbano if what transpired in the National Assembly Election is anything to be considered. What will also give victory to the candidate of the ruling party is the armada of APC gladiators in Isiala Mbano who may not want to fail in delivering their candidate.
The clean sweep APC recorded in Onuimo and Okigwe LGAs in the last election will be a big boost for the party on Saturday. Irrespective of how the successes were recorded, there is possibility of consolidation especially in Okigwe LGA who not only has secured the chance of producing an age long desire of a senator for the zone in the person of Senator-Elect, Patrick Ndubueze but also has opportunity to produce next Speaker of the House since their lawmaker will be a ranking one if he returns to the parliament in Owerri.
Orlu Zone:
Electoral fireworks will be intensive in this zone on Saturday. Reason being that it is the Zone of the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma who is upbeat about having his APC members become conquerors in the election.
From Oru East, Oru West, Orsu and Orlu, Uzodinma’s influence and dexterity at ensuring his men take over the Assembly seat shall be witnessed. Therefore, the above mentioned areas remain his strongholds, he will not take chances to deliver for APC. There won’t be much opposition from other parties in Oru East and Oru West though Labour and PDP will slug it out with APC in Orlu and Orsu.
The incarceration of former Deputy Governor and PDP strongman in Oguta LGA may affect the chances of his party of the incumbent, Hon Frank Ugboma of the PDP. Irona who was thrown into prison custody seven days ago will be in the place until the election is over. The implication is that such development will likely affect the PDP chances that has capacity of giving an edge to the APC candidate. Labour party can’t also be ruled out as one of the popular Nwauwa family in Izombe is the candidate.
In Ohaji/Egbema, the magic wand of the apex leader of the APC in the area and Minister of the state for Education, Rt Hon Goodluck Nanah Opiah may be replayed on Saturday. Opiah is the man behind the victory of National Assembly candidate of APC for House of Reps, Eugene Dibiagwu in the last election and is already in town mobilizing support for voters to look the way of Dr Francis Osuoha otherwise known as Eze Buguma. But two other contenders from PDP, Emeka Benjamin and House member who is representing Ohaji/Egbema in the House of Assembly, Herclus Okoro now of the Labour party may not be easy push over in the election. As the only candidate from Egbema divide, Okoro may spring a surprise to rattle the APC.
Except for Nkwerre in the Federal Constituency of Nkwerre, Isu, Nwangele and Njaba where there are enough APC chieftains to sway votes to APC, any party can win in the remaining LGAs that make up NINN.
It’s going to be unpredictable in Ideato South where fresh contenders want to stop APC’s Hon Johnson Duru (Pajay). Though Pajay may have upper hand against others, but it won’t be easy for the party in Ideato North with the mercurial CUPP spokesperson and House of Reps member elect, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere bringing back the method he used to win the Ideato Federal Constituency title. Those who found him worthy may also extend the love to the PDP House of Assembly candidate of Ideato North.
Owerri Zone:
There is no gainsaying the fact that even if PDP are at the losing end of vital elective positions after dominance in the past years, one area it has firm control of election proceedings is the Mbaise Clan. The presence of the former House of Reps Deputy Speaker and 2019 governorship candidate of the PDP, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha has made the party become a household name in the three councils that make up Mbaise land.
Since the advent of the nascent democracy, PDP candidates have continued to win Aboh, Ahiazu and Ezinihitte LGAs and 2023 may not be an exception.
Parading formidable candidates in the three state constituencies is another positive mark that will help the PDP consolidate its Mbaise traditional strongholds in the state Assembly elections. Despite the defections of Eddy Obinna of Aboh and Sam Otuibe of Ahiazu from PDP to APC, the party will rise to the occasion on Saturday to reclaim the positions.
Because of the Labour Party’s cruising run in Owerri Federal Constituency where it won the Federal House and also Senate of the Zone, there is possibility that the party may succeed in picking Assembly seats from Owerri Municipal, Owerri West and Owerri North. Due to Uche Onyeagocha’s towering influence in Owerri
West PDP has chances of springing a surprise. If PDP can succeed in Owerri West, APC has strength in Owerri North while Labour may capture Municipal seat.
Ngor Okpala is open for grabs by any of the strong parties same for Mbaitoli and Ikeduru where the cloud is uncertain.
