Whether you admit it or not, Labour Party has gained a strong foothold in Imo State due to the clout of its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi. Hotmedia.ng gathered that people throng into the party secretariat to register as members, a sign that it is a party to watch in the state.
Labour party in Imo State has thus far recorded a good number of governorship aspirants, who hope to pick the guber ticket of the party ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election..
This is in contrast to the meagre number of aspirants in the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State.
In the APC, Governor Hope Uzodimma is expected to be the sole guber aspirant and looks good to clinch the governorship ticket of the party.
Former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha and National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu are the two major governorship aspirants in the PDP.
The influx of governorship hopefuls into the Labour party in the State is predicated on the assumption or belief that the party would put up an impressive performance in the forthcoming presidential elections.
LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is receiving surging support in the South East region, as the February 25, 2023 presidential polls draws near.
Analysts contend that Obi’s popularity is impacting positively on the party in the State, and remains a key factor why the number of governorship aspirants in the party continue to swell.
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However, there are concerns that the number of aspirants in Imo Labour Party may shrink or some of the governorship aspirants may loose steam and possibly drop out from the race, if Obi fails to win the 2023 presidential vote next month.
“Obi’s success or failure at the presidential polls would determine the fate of the Labour party in the State and in the South East.
“If he wins the presidential polls, it would fuel the ambition of the governorship aspirants. If he fails, most of them will loose faith in their aspirations and possibly opt out of the race” said a top Labour party chieftain in the State who spoke to this newspaper.
As at the time of filing this report, three governorship aspirants have emerged in the party with the possibility of more aspirants jumping into the contest after the general elections.
Those who have joined the guber race on the party’s platform include General Lincoln Jackson Ogunewe (retd), Attorney Charles Onyirimba and Mr. James Okoroma .
However, there are strong indications that the number of governorship aspirants in the party would increase soon.
Sources said a serial former governorship aspirant, Humphrey Anumudu, may have his eyes on the governorship ticket of the party.
Anumudu had recently donated 27 buses to the party in the State to aid it’s operations, a signal that he is warming up to contest for Imo governorship on the platform of the party.
Martin Agbaso, who is in charge of Peter Obi’s campaign team in Imo State, is said to be also interested in the governorship ticket of the party and may join the contest after the presidential election next month.
A labour Party (LP) governorship aspirant Dr Tobechukwu Ehirim has said that he will turnaround the economy of Imo State within 12 months if elected.
Ehirim, who met with the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi in Atlanta Georgia,USA recently said he would revamp ailing.
Chief Uche Nwosu is considered a peoples’ person who reaches out irrespective of political differences.
He has not declared interest yet but a verified source said Nwosu will test his might using the Labour Party platform.
Others who are in the race as labour Party Aspirants in Imo State are retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Dr Charles Ugomuo, an oil magnet and mugul, Basil Maduaka.
The list of Labour Party Governorship Aspirants In Imo State so far :
General Lincoln Jackson Ogunewe (retd)
Attorney Charles Onyirimba
Mr. James Okoroma .
Dr Charles Ugomuo
Mr Basil Maduaka
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume
Barr Humphrey Anumudu
Chief Martin Agbaso
Dr Tobechukwu Ehirim
Chief Uche Nwosu
Chief David Mbamara
Dr Nnaemeka Obiaraeri
