ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Ahead of the November governorship polls in Imo State, the APC consensus candidate and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, has reportedly picked Mrs Ekomaru, as his running mate.
Mrs Ekomaru is the wife of the former Imo governorship aspirant, Barrister Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN).
It was gathered that Uzodinma resorted to picking a woman as his running mate due to recent demand by the women of the State led by the wife of the Governor of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu.
Mrs Akeredolu requested that women should be given equal opportunity to occupy political offices, especially the deputy governorship of the state.
Ekomaru hails from the Umunnoha community in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo, and she is a devout Anglican.
According to government House sources, Governor Uzodimma will officially present the woman, Mrs Ekomaru, shortly after.
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The source added that the Governor had considered the fact that the Ekomarus are very influentially Anglicans after the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu family, saying that region plays a major role in normal elections in the state.
Meanwhile, Governor Uzodimma’s deputy, Professor Placid Njoku, is a staunch Catholic as well as Uzodimma himself.
It was also learned that another consideration is the voting strength of the LGA and its proximity to Ikeduru, where the PDP guber candidate, Samuel Anyanwu, hails from.
On the other hand, Okigwe zone, which earlier contested the deputy governorship slot on the premise that Owerri zone had been enjoying the position, is said to have received the news with mixed feelings.
A leader from Onuimo told newsmen that the Governor had drawn the battle line with the people of Okigwe for failing to hearken to their cries.
Also, a leader who pleaded anonymity added that the zone would review the selection of Governor Uzodinma’s running mate from Owerri to see if they will withdraw their support for him (Uzodinma).
“After all the consultations and deliberations with the governor and his words of promises, he eventually picked from the same Owerri zone, which has been enjoying the position way back from former Governor Ikedi Ohakim.
“Okigwe leaders shall review the selection to see if we will withdraw our support for the governor,” he said.