In a bold move to bring down the large number of governorship aspirants from Owerri zone, the Owerri Progressive front (OPF) has organized an opin­ion poll to determine the popularity of aspiring candidates jostling for the coveted seat in the 2015 elections. The ex­ercise which began on August 1 and ended on September 1, produced Senator Chris Anyanwu, from Ahiazu Mbaise Lo­cal Government Area, LGA, Chief (Barr) Hum­phrey Anumudu from Mbaitolu LGA, Chief Jerry Chukwueke from Owerri North LGA, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Repre­sentative, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, from Aboh Mbaise LGA. All of them belong to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The National President of OPF, Mr Ebere Chukwue­meka, who spoke to Sunday Sun, described the exercise

as transparent. According to him, “about 4,000 persons voted through text messages during this period. Each of the voters indicated who should be their preferred aspirant from Owerri zone.

He said his group was in the process of presenting the four aspirants to politi­cal leaders in the zone. He also promised to publish full details of the poll in local, national and on line newspapers in due course.

The battle for the 2015 governorship seat in Imo has pitched the zone against Orlu and Okigwe zones. While Orlu has produced Achike Udenwa who served for 8 years, and the current governor, Rochas Okorocha who is about to complete 4 years, Okigwe had Ikeddy Ohakim who served for 4 years.

Owerri zone is yet to produce a governor for the state, leading to the intense agitation and huge number of aspirants.


Source: Sun