One week after ex-Governor Emeka Ihedioha reportedly declared his intention to seek re-election as Imo State Governor come 2023, traditional leaders and political stakeholders of the three senatorial zones in the state, have requested relevant institutions, to interrogate the former governor for allegedly violating provisions of the Electoral Act.
At a joint press conference in Owerri, the stakeholders represented by the Orlu Political Consultative Assembly, Owerri Zone Political Leaders Forum and Okigwe Political Assembly, denounced what they described as “the ill-timed governorship campaign/declaration,” by the former governor who was removed from office via a Supreme Court judgement, on January 15, 2020.
The National President of OPOCA, Chief Rex Anunobi, in a statement endorsed by the National President OPA, Chief Matthew Omegara, the National Secretary, OZOPOLF, Mr Kingsley Ononuju, as well as National Secretary, OPA, Chief Sam Osuji, expressed regret that the ex-governor not only unfolded his 2023/24 gubernatorial ambition but also boasted that he would realise it.
Anunobi said, “Shortly after his so-called ‘Egbu Declaration’, Ihedioha through his party, apparently declared his intention to contest again as governor. He further announced that Imolites and Nigerians who intended to return home or visit the state during the yuletide, to drop such an idea to avoid being ‘slaughtered like chicken’.
“This unfortunate statement is undisputedly a counter-directive to assurances by Governor Hope Uzodinma who guaranteed safety to Imolites returning home during the Yuletide”.
Anunobi, a former Imo State Commissioner for Transport accused Ihedioha of showing indifference to the security and other challenges facing the state.
Besides, he explained that there was a subsisting state charter on equity that rotates the governorship seat among the three zones.
Anunobi argued that since Uzodinma was constitutionally entitled to a second term in office, equity and zoning of the state’s number one office should begin with him and his Orlu zone after which it would rotate to Owerri and Okigwe zones in 2028 when he (Uzodinma) might have exhausted his constitutional second tenure.