.As Placid Njoku’s Time Is Up
After a successful outing in the State House of Assembly Election in Imo State which saw the candidates of the All Progressive Congress, APC, emerge victorious in the results announced so far, another fresh hurdle is on the way for Governor Hope Uzodinma ahead the gubernatorial contest scheduled for November 2023.
But before the governorship polls, Uzodinma is said to be in a dilemma concerning who becomes his running mate for the contest.
The challenges facing the Imo governor has to do with who becomes the deputy governorship candidate. Trumpeta learnt that with the elections over and all eyes focused on the governorship, Uzodinma is in a fix either to continue with Prof Placid Njoku as Deputy or chose another person for the position.
With the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, stipulating process of the parties for nomination of Governorship to end next month, the Imo State number one citizen has put on his thinking cap over who should be his running mate.
Trumpeta learnt that irrespective of the rosy manner Uzodinma has related with Prof Njoku in the past three years, it won’t be easy for the Deputy Governor to easily get another chance to run with his principal in November.
This is because of reported plans to have him replaced. Information available to the newspaper has it that the governor is shopping for replacement in Owerri Zone.
Already, profiling of a would be replacement has commenced in earnest with top politicians from Owerri Zone getting attention.
A source in Government House informed Trumpeta that after reported plots to have Njoku removed early in the life of Uzodinma administration failed, the 2023 election has provided the chance to effect the change.
No reason was offered to Trumpeta reasons why the search by the governor but the new move may not be unconnected to the urge of a group of Owerri Zone political class who are of the view that Njoku has no much background in partisan politics to galvanize support for APC and Uzodinma in the zone.
Another factor is the popularity of the former Vice Chancellor of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Umuahia in the political field which was said not to be enormous to match opposition forces in Imo State.
Trumpeta gathered that in view of the governor’s search, some interested bidders for the position have started making moves to attract the attention of Government House, Owerri for consideration.
