Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is about ruffling feathers in his All Progressives Congress party (APC) following his unclear moves to get a running mate for the 2015 elections.
Trumpeta had in its last edition reported that the two frontline favourites, the Deputy Governor and Chief of Staff, Prince Eze Madumere and Chief Jude Ejiogu respectively, have been shoved aside in the running mate race as Okorocha is favoured to pick someone from Mbaise clan.
Following the outbreak of the governor’s plan, Trumpeta further learnt that the governor has recoiled to himself preferring to handle the matter secretly to avoid disaffection in his political party. The earlier permutation that his campaign Director General and Commissioner serving in the state, Hon. Alaribe may likely be favoured to run with Okorocha since he is from the same political bloc with the PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha.
Fresh reports reaching Trumpeta is that Okorocha is reconsidering the Mbaise factor for some reasons. The newspaper gathered that picking any person outside the aforementioned able lieutenants may cause disaffecrtion and spell doom for the party in the state in the coming elections. The government House sources revealed that should Okorocha go ahead to dump Madumere and Ejiogu, he may not continue to enjoy quality leadership and loyalists from the said office holders, hence his decision to adopt subterranean means for the search of a running mate.
To erase mutual suspicion, the source stated that a secret search for a candidate from Okigwe zone has begun in earnest. The Okigwe zone agenda is to leave Owerri zone to Ihedioha and carry the favour of Okigwe which will be added to his Orlu zone to emerge victorious.
Another factor that is said to be a major hindrance to Okorocha’s Mbaise deputy is the fact that the state party chairman, Chief Hilary Eke is also from Mbaise. The idea of giving Mbaise the party Chairman and Deputy Governor position is said to be counter productive, capable of rousing protest votes in other parts of Owerri zone like Mbaike and Owerri Federal Constituency where the major contenders, Madumere and Ejiogu are from.
Our source further revealed that Okorocha has gone underground in the search for a running mate as it is no longer a subject for discussion in Government House.
“It has become a secret matter, nobody is talking about the Deputy Governorship position again because it is strictly the decision of the governor. He is going about it in a secret way.
“I can inform you that no top shot in government circle or in Okorocha’s camp is aware of what the governor is doing about the issue of running mate,” the source added.
