Recall that a week to Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inauguration as President of the Federal Republic, Tinubu had a close door meeting with the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP); Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in Paris, France.
In that meeting, it was alleged that all requests by Tinubu for All NNPP senators and house of reps members elect as at then to support his choice National Assembly leadership candidates; Akpabio Godswill, Tajudeen Abbas, Ben Kalu and Barau were well approved by Kwankwaso.
Again, in President Tinubu’s last visit about 10days ago to France, he and Kwankwaso meet again and this time the Imo state November 11th Governorship election formed part of the discussion as it has been verified that one of Kwankwaso’s godson is in the race for Imo Deputy Governorship race.
Report has it that closest allies to President Tinubu have confirmed that Governor Uzodimma didn’t support President Tinubu’s emergence as APC Presidential candidate but former Senate President; Ahmed Lawan whose nomination form of 100 million naira is said to have been bought by the Imo state Governor.
Records are eminent that at the APC Presidential Primaries, Tinubu got only one vote from Imo state as the Governor directed all Imo APC delegates to vote Ahmed Lawan, an instruction that was obeyed to the later except for a former house of rep member from Mbaise who went against the Governor’s order to vote for Tinubu.
If the major reason why Imo Governor is running from pillar to post in Abuja is anything to go by, Imo state is likely to be having a new Governor-elect of the New Nigeria People’s Party come November 11th 2023.
The governorship candidate of the NNPP; Uche Ben Odunzeh is an astute entrepreneur who has no political dent.
He has the support of majority of the Imo teeming youths because of the age bracket of both him and his running mate who is a renowned national youth leader and mobilizer.
Also going against Uzodinma is his alleged neglet to the numerous calls from the then Speaker of the Federal house of Reps; Femi Gbajabiamila requesting that his friend; Ugonna Ozurigbo who duly won the house of reps seat for the second time be declared winner but was politically witch-hunted by the Governor.
At the moment, two alternatives to Uzodinma are being considered for Imo state Governoship seat at the National power decision table; the NNPP’s Governorship candidate and the AA’s Governorship Candidate.
The Presidency is said to have also received with dismay the draconian policy of the Uzodinma’s administration with mandates opposition political parties in Imo state and their candidates to pay the sum of Fifty-four million, three hundred thousand naira each before they can have their campaign materials and brandings on display or risk enpoundment of campaign vehicles and destruction of billboards, an act that may worsen the already heart-disturbing insecurity activities in the state now.
We look forward to more interesting times as Imo Governorship election draws closer.