Barring any last minute change, the Imo State gubernatorial election will hold on November 11th, 2023 with 34 candidates seeking to become either the governor or the deputy governor.
Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had published it’s final list with 17 candidates seeking to displace Governor Hope Uzodimma from clinching a second term in office.
Except for the APC, several parties in the state have called for the immediate redeployment of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Sylvia Agu over alleged improprieties during the presidential, national and state assembly elections.
While the billboards of the APC adorn every corner of the state, others don’t have because the Imo Signage and Advertising Agency pegged it at N50million.
Political pundits argue that of the 17 candidates, just about seven parties are in the race to win based on their popularity, party spread, capacity of candidates, acceptance by the citizenry, party structure, and presence in the state.
The candidates are Governor Hope Uzodimma of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Athan Achonu of Labour Party (LP), Major Gen. Lincoln Ogunewe of Action Alliance (AA), Dr Kemdi Opara of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Chief Tony Ejiogu of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and Ekwebelem of the SDP.
All Progressive Congress
Currently the occupier of the Douglas House Owerri, governor Hope Uzodimma is not leaving any stone unturned in his bid to win a second term in office. Already, he has secured the endorsement of almost every group including several traditional stools.
Further, major stakeholders recently adopted the Imo charter of equity for him to complete a second term and midwife the turn of an Owerri born person.
As chairman of the APC governors forum, Uzodimma is considered a critical force in the race, being a seasoned politician himself. He’s the only candidate from Imo West senatorial zone which has the highest number of local government areas in the state.
Unfortunately his biggest opponent is probably insecurity as several communities have been deserted following activities of gunmen and arsonists, which is the mantra of all the candidates. Under his watch, several people have turned internally displaced persons as their homes and villages have been taken over by gunmen.
Peoples Democratic Party
Senator Samuel Anyanwu is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and the party’s national scribe. He’s probably the most most experienced candidate having served as local government chairman, house of assembly member, senator, and party official. His party the PDP is his biggest strength and probably his weakness simultaneously. Obviously the PDP has spread throughout the state even as Anyanwu is considered somewhat accepted as a replacement. However, many are still angry that he muzzled Chief Emeka Ihedioha out of the race and are making no effort to further his ambition.
Recently seven executives of the PDP resigned to join Uzodimma.
Sources say he has some political big wigs within the APC who supports his ambition and have mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral and allow votes to count.
Labour Party
Senator Athan Achonu of Labour Party popularly called One arm General. He’s probably the single largest investor in Imo state of all the candidates through his aku ruoulo (invest home) project with several industrial farms to show. He’s for active local government participation which he said is the cause ofinsecurity. Achonu argued that Imo is Labour Party driven based on the massive support the presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi garnered in the state. Further, he said the truncated second term of Dr Ikedi Ohakim in 2011 robbed his zone, Imo North (Okigwe zone) a complete term. His zone had been out of Douglas House as governor or deputy for almost 12 years running.
Achonu’s weakness is the internal wrangling within Labour Party in the state while many left after his emergence. Undoubtedly, he has the most colourful campaign in the state especially with his alliance with power bikers who hold many spellbound with different displays.
Action Alliance
Major Gen. Lincoln Ogunewe is the flagbearer of AA, after he pulled out of the primaries of Labour Party that produced Achonu. He has several Labour Party stalwarts who moved with him to AA. He hails from Mbaise which has numbers, the three Mbaise local government areas have repeatedly swung electoral results in favour of their preferred candidate like they did for Chief Emeka Ihedioha in 2019.
His opponents however argued that whilst he excelled in the army, he lacks understanding of political manoeuvres which he has dismissed.
Young Progressives Party
Dr Kemdi Opara may be described as a serial aspirant, having contested several positions in the past. Opara owns businesses in the United States of America where he is said to earn millions in foreign currency. A prolific writer, he has several books on Nigeria. Recently he got the endorsement of Ndi Nze considered the spiritual heads of various communities in Igboland. He argued that his party has presence throughout the ov 625 autonomous communities in the state.
Pundits argue that he’s running an elitist campaign probably because he’s the only person who has a campaign consultant in his team.
All Progressive Grand Alliance
Sir Tony Ejiogu of APGA comes from a political lineage, his father was a former party chairman whilst his younger brother is the immediate past lawmaker for Owerri North state assembly.
Ejiogu’s biggest strength is the emotional attachment of the Igbo man to the party, to immortalise former warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu who registered it. Some people come what may, will remain APGA members till they breathe their last.
Unfortunately several Owerri candidates are in the contest which unfortunately will split the votes.
Unfortunately the spate of insecurity and insurgency has robbed the state of a heavy political campaigns as several places are deserted while many people chose to shun political gatherings.
The campaigns lack the usual energy wherein women adorn different attires to different party campaigns, which has robbed many of income from rallies.
The lack of different billboards also seems monotonous seeing just one candidate cum party across the state.
As November 11th inches closer, INEC may just be grappling with voter apathy as several people are yet to collect their permanent voter’s cards.
Where the pendulum swings is a ticking clock, who will occupy the Douglas House from January 15th, the swearing in day, the answer lies on November 11th, 2023.