The 2015 Governorship election will be keenly contested this time in Imo State, the incumbent Governor Owelle Anayo Rochas was massively supported in his last outing (2011 Governorship election), this year election will be a different case. Some Imolites are not impressed with the Governor’s performance while some other people consider his alliance with the APC as a betrayal to the Igbo cause, orders consider him as the best Governor in the history of Imo State. Honestly his achievement in Imo state is legendary. The Governor is up against two Governorship aspirants namely Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representative and Captain Emanuel Iheanacho, former Minister of Interior; these two candidates are set to be up against the incumbent Governor. We will look at the chances of the three Governorship aspirants in three Senatorial Zones in Imo State.
ANALYSIS
ORLU SENATORIAL ZONE
Orlu is actually the biggest Senatorial Zone in Imo with 12 Local Government Areas (LGA’s) out of 27 LGA’s in Imo State. This is the Zone of the Incumbent Governor; The Governor is receiving an overwhelming support from his people and has transformed the zone with his developmental projects. The zone is an envy of other zones in Imo State as Owelle’s successful re-election and completed Governance will mean the zone has ruled Imo for 16years.Orlu Local Government and some other Local Government in Orlu zone is becoming developed and is gradually catching up with Owerri, the Capital of Imo State.
However, people in Ohaji/Egbema LGA an oil producing area in the State are not in full support with the Governor, reason being that the Governor sold Ada Palm, the oil palm processing company to a private establishment which rubbed them off their source of livelihood, and he also insisted that the people should start paying their electric bills, the refusal of these people to pay their electric bills has lead them to be out of power supply for almost a year. The people are also not happy with the Governor’s decision of decentralizing Imo State polytechnic to other parts of Imo State. This LGA has always been a PDP area and the parade the former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly Goodluck Nana Opiah a die-hard PDP member and a sworn enemy of the Governor leading the opposition. People in Oguta LGA are also against the Governor, this is an oil producing area, and the people don’t have a member representing them in Imo State house of assembly for a whole tenure (4years). Oguta is parading the former Senator of Orlu Zone Arthur Nzeribe a political veteran and rabble-rouser, Arthur Nzeribe is a staunch PDP member and he is expected to lead the attack against the APC Governor. Other political gladiators in the Zone such as former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa a PDP member and the current Senator representing Orlu Zone Hope Uzodimmna are set to upset the Governor in his re-election bid.
Owelle fought tirelessly for “The People’s General” in the just concluded Presidential election against the PDP and he is expecting to receive a helping hand from the President-elect. The Governor’s alliance with Okechukwu is actually a good thing for Imo people as Imo may be the only state in South East that will not be in Opposition to the Federal Government. Most of the people that voted General Buhari in Imo voted because of Owelle. The Imo Security Network setup by Governor which was not allowed to play a role in presidential election will now have a free hand in tomorrow’s elections. With the power of incumbency at his disposal and an overwhelming support from his people, Owelle is likely going to face little resistance in his zone.

VERDICT
Owelle amasses huge votes in Orlu Zone.
OWERRI SENATORIAL ZONE
Owerri Senatorial zone has 9 LGA’s; it is the zone of the PDP Governorship flag bearer, the Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representative Emeka Ihedioha, and also the zone of APGA Governorship flag bearer and former Minister for Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho. The two candidates are set to slug it out in the battle of obtaining huge votes than the other in their own zone. Owerri Municipal the capital of Imo is likely going to be a battle ground for the three Governorship candidate.
PDP in Imo State has a formidable political structure and its members are money bag politicians these people are ready to win the election by hook or by crook. The deputy speaker is banking on the support of his Mbaise people to garner votes for him at the polls. The Mbaise people are not really impressed with the Deputy speaker’s performance, but this will be thrown aside in tomorrow’s election, as they known to be the most nepotistic people (they favour their own people than any other people) in Imo State. Another plus for the speaker is the presence of the political gladiators in the zone, the likes of Senator Chris Anyanwu, Emmanuel Iwuanywu, Bethel Amadi, Sam Daddy, Malcom are all a plus for the Deputy speaker. The presence of Engr Emmanuel Iwuanyawu in Ikeduru LGA is an advantage to the speaker as Ikeduruis going to experience massive rigging, along with Mbaitolu.
Captain Iheanacho on the order hand lacks the political structure to win election in the state and he also lacks the financial power to see his way through. He has not been able to campaign vigorously across the state and little is known about him in villages across the state, this is a big minus for the captain as he lacks the foot soldiers that will do the rigging for him. The captain strong hold is actually in Owerri North his LGA and most part of Owerri Municipal. The captain performed creditably well during his days as the minister of interior and also gave employment to a lot of youths in high paying job. This is supposed to be the man for the Douglas house, but his political platform and lack political structure will be is biggest undoing.
VERDICT
A vote for Captain Iheanacho is wasted vote. Emeka Ihedioha wins in Owerri zone.
OKIGWE SENATORIAL ZONE
This is the smallest Senatorial zone with 6 LGA’s, despite ruling Imo State twice, this is the least developed zone in Imo state. The immediate past Governor of Imo State Ikedi Ohakim performed woefully in the state and could not do anything tangible to develop his zone to be at the same level with other senatorial zone in the state. The zone has no notable and serious Governorship aspirant in the state. This zone parades political gladiator in the state and heavy rigging in the favour of PDP will be experienced in this zone. Okigwe zone has always been a PDP area since 1999 and a lot can happen in this area any time, the Eze’s, and Chief’s in these areas are known for imposing candidates for support to the people, the people in these area sheepishly obeys the political heavy weights without any question. Sharing of money right there at the polling unit will be the order of the day. These people are not interested in whoever wins the election but are only interested in money giving to them at the polling unit, these zone have the least enlightened people in the whole Imo state. The APC members in the zone are not financially buoyant and they will prove to be no match their PDP counterpart. The APC Senatorial aspirant in the zone and the current Speaker of the Imo State house of assembly Chief Benjamin Uwajimogu who lost in his election bid will be swallowed up in tomorrow’s election. If the Owelle and security operatives are not on top of their game in these area, Owelle will receive a huge blow.
VERDICT
Emeka Ihedioha will receive a clean sweep in this area.
CONCLUSION
Tomorrow’s election will be keenly contested, the incumbent Governor will not get an overwhelming support from the whole state this time, voters turnout will be key. The likes of Ken Ojiri of Accord party and Osmond Imo Ukanacho of UPP who are not included in the equation stand no chance in tomorrow’s election. Tomorrow’s election will be battle of the political gladiators, the election might be violent and lives are likely to be lost.
OVERALL VERDICT
Owelle Anayo Okorocha Rochas emerges as the winner.

Okorocha

Sai Okorocha!