From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Barely one week after the emergency of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, there are strong indications that most of his key allies from Owerri and Okigwe senatorial zones are jostling and scheming to be his running mate in the forthcoming November 11th, INEC scheduled segmented gubernatorial election
These indications are emerging against the background that the current Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, is however very much in contention to be retained as the Governor’s running mate for the election.
However, Uzodimma as a political tactician is said to be keeping close to his chest who will fight the battle ahead with him.
Within the Governor’s political circle, his choice of running mate is said to be predicated on strength and area the Governorship candidates of his strongest opposition political parties came from, that’s the PDP and the Labour party in the state.
Recall that last week Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Senator Athan Achonu, had emerged governorship candidates of the PDP and Labour party respectively.
Based on the outcome of the Primaries of the two parties, Uzodimma political pendulum in consideration of his running mate is tilting between Owerri and Okigwe senatorial zone.
However, multiple sources said that the Deputy Governor is most likely to be retained as Running Mate on the grounds that “Uzodimma can comfortably defeat the PDP and Labour party governorship candidates”
According to some political pundits, “the PDP and LP fielded candidates that cannot spark a wave for change in the state. Sam Daddy and Athan do not have political spine to unseat an Uzodimma in the forthcoming guber election” one of the sources told this newspaper.
“On this basis, there is no need to change a winning team.If the Labour party had come up with a more acceptable candidate, a candidate either in the mould of Peter Obi, or similar to Obi, it would have altered the choice of running mate of the governor.
“Since it is not the case, it is most unlikely for Prof Njoku to be dropped as Running Mate to Governor Uzodimma” the sources stated.
