Governor Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, may have jettisoned his push for the Imo State governorship, following the outcome of the party’s congresses, in which a coalition of stakeholders wrestled the party structure from the governor.
This came as people, yesterday, intensified lobbying for positions in the state, ahead of imminent cabinet shakeup.
Daily Sun gathered that his campaign vehicles branded “Ugwumba Movement” have suddenly disappeared from the streets of Owerri, the state capital.
Also gone are the daily ‘endorsement’ rituals and solidarity visits by various groups, especially rural women and students calling on the Chief of Staff to the governor to contest the 2019 governorship election.
A source close to the office of the chief of staff disclosed that he decided to suspend his governorship activities because of the unpleasant fallout of the congresses of the party to his political family.
The source, who pleaded anonymity said: “The Chief of Staff ordered that all his campaign vehicles be pulled off the road in the meantime, while issues surrounding the contentious party congresses in the state are sorted out.
Uche Nwosu has also directed the various groups, like “Believe”, working for him to stay action, until the coast is clear.”
The group, however, believes the governor is beginning to have upper hand in the supremacy fight in the Imo chapter of the party, particularly, with the replacement of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu as Secretary of the APC National Convention Committee, after his alleged resignation.
Those who have remained steadfast with the governor said it was high time Okorocha rewarded their loyalty with political positions, since some of his henchmen have jumped ship to work with the coalition of stakeholders.
One of the governor’s loyalists said; “because of what happened, some persons don’t want to identify with Okorocha and Uche Nwosu anymore; even some of them who were given branded vehicles don’t ride in them anymore.
So, some commissioners, special advisers and special assistants will definitely go very soon.”
Meanwhile, another source close to the Imo Government House blamed the current situation on the governor and his wife, for allegedly pushing Nwosu into the race.
“It was never in his original plan to contest for the governorship. What Uche had wanted was to contest the House of Representatives seat. The original plan for Hon. Chike Okafor from Okigwe zone to run for governor,” he said.
Daily Sun recalls that what sparked off opposition against the governor, within the APC in the state, was his open endorsement of his son-in-law as his preferred successor in 2019.
When contacted, Nwosu dismissed the claim that he no longer enjoyed the support of his loyalists and people in the state.
In a telephone chat with Daily Sun he said: “It is not true that my campaign vehicles have been withdrawn; I still have my supporters solidly behind me, go to Ugwumba campaign office, people are still there, I have said it countless times that it is only God who can stop my becoming the governor of Imo State, because He is the one who has destined it.”
He also said there is no need for endorsements again, since almost all the local government areas in the state had endorsed his ambition.
He added that only last week, students and women in their large numbers came to say “it is Ugwumba or nobody else.”
-Sun
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