Imo State House of Assembly backs Okorocha's choice of his son-in-law for governor

MEMBERS of the Imo State House of Assembly have thrown their weight behind Governor Rochas Okorocha in his bid to get his son-in-law Uche Nwosu succeed him in office pointing out that he is well qualified for the job.

Next February, Imo, like most of Nigeria's other states will elect a new government and having served two terms, Governor Okorocha is due to vacate office. He has backed Mr Nwosu, his son-in-law and chief of staff to succeed him in office, which has created a huge furore in the state.

Those opposed to Governor Okorocha, managed to take control of the recent ward elections in the state, hoping to use it to thwart Mr Nwosu's candidature. Already, the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leadership has been involved in the spat as both camps have visited Abuja to state their case and get the support of the national secretariat.

At the APC secretariat in Abuja yesterday, Hon Acho Ihim, the speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, called on the APC national leadership to reschedule the ward and local government congress in the state. At a meeting with APC national chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, he said there was no election in the state as earlier reported, adding that the lawmakers were on the same page with Governor Okorocha.

Hon Ihim added: “The shenanigans that we saw last Saturday can never be taken for congresses and we are taking this very seriously. We are here to reconfirm the fact that there was no ward congress in Imo and to demand that an announcement be made for a new date for the ward and local government congresses.

Leading 23 other legislators from the state, Hon Ihim said that the state governor had done so well, adding that there would not have been APC in the southeast without him. He added that the desire of the legislators was to ensure adherence to due process and the rule of law in the state and that things were done rightly.

On Mr Nwosu, the speaker said that as an individual, Governor Okorocha had a right to choose who succeeded him in office. He added that Governor Okorocha’s choice was not out of place, saying that Mr Nwosu as indigene of Imo and citizen of Nigeria was qualified to be governor of the state.

Hon Ihim said: “The governor as a person has his preferences, I have mine too and we all do and as such, whoever you want to endorse, you can endorse. For me and the governor, we have endorsed Nwosu, his son in-law but when the primaries come, Imo people will decide if it will be another candidate.

“It doesn’t imply that at the moment, you can’t do your own. Endorsement is not a special thing.”

He added that Mr Nwosu was of age and academically fit to occupy the position. Governor Okorocha's critics, however, have said he is trying to impose his son-in-law on the state to cover up what wrongs he did while in office.