Indications emerged on why the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole removed Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, replacing him with Senator Hope Uzodinma as the candidate of the party in the state’s governorship election.
A credible source who is aware of what is going on in the party said that the 2023 Presidential race is the reason some interest groups in the party frustrated the ambition of Uche Nwosu perceiving influence of Governor Okorocha and his rising profile in the South East.
The general sentiment that it is the turn of the South East to produce the President in the country and Rochas Okorocha possibility also contributed to removal of Uche Nwosu’s name, the source added.
According to the source, all eyes are on Okorocha given his strong friendship with many sitting African Presidents, his Rochas Foundation Colleges across the country and recently his educational scholarships across the African continent coupled with his strong ties to the Northern Nigeria.
The source alleged that the leader of the cabal that worked against his interest is from the South West and wants to take a shot at the Presidency in 2023.
So according to the insider, the powerful interests are worried that with Okorocha in the Senate, Uche Nwosu as Imo State Governor and many of his trusted aides in the State House of Assembly and National Assembly as well as his closeness to the north, and rising influence in many African countries, the coast may well be clear for him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
A source close to APC in the state who agrees with this position wondered how Oshiomhole could disregard the Panel which conducted elections in the state in which Uche Nwosu emerged as the candidate of the party.
But the party has now gone ahead to submit the name of Hope Uzodinma as its governorship candidate in spite of two restraining orders from different courts.
The Federal High Court and FCT High Court had barred the National leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) from substituting the name of Uche Nwosu for Senator Hope Uzodinma for the party’s governorship candidate in Imo State.
APC had reportedly substituted Nwosu’s name for Uzodinma for the governorship election in Imo State.
But, both court restrained the National Chairman of the party and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from removing Uche Nwosu’s name for Senator Hope Uzodinma
pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Justice M.T. Salihu issued the order on the basis of a suit filed by Ekwebelem Kelechi and 26 others against the APC, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, Chairman of the party’s governorship primary election committee and Hon. Henry Idahagbon, the committee Secretary
In addition, the Abuja High Court restrained the National Chairman of the party who is the first defendant and the National Working Committee of the party from presenting any other name to INEC than that of Uche Nwosu as the candidate of the party in Imo State.
The Court also barred the electoral body from recognising the second defendant, Senator Hope Uzodinma as the candidate of the party pending the hearing and determination of the notice for injunction filed along with the application.
Aside from the National Chairman of the party and INEC, other defendants listed in the court are Daniel Nwafor the Chairman of the Imo State chapter of the party and the state Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The FCT court also issued a notice of consequence of disobedience of its order.
