Ahead of the November 11 gubernatorial election in Imo State Governor , Hope Uzodinma has picked Lady Chinyere Ekomaru,a Lawyer as new running mate relieving the incumbent Deputy, Placid Njoku of the spare role in the next four years should he succeed in his re-election bid .
Uzodinma who unveiled Ekomaru at a ceremony in Owerri, the state capital on Saturday said that his action was based on religious and political reasons.
According to Uzodinma, the choice of a new running mate does not mean he has issues with the present Deputy Governor ,Placid Njoku but due to” ecumenical and political permutations”.
Uzodinma is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress APC, the ruling party in the state and hopes to defeat his close rivals, Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Lincoln Ogunewe of the Action Alliance (AA), Lincoln Ogunewe, and Labour Party (LP) candidate,Senator Athan Achonu .
News of his preference for Ekomaru and unveiling began trending since May but the official unveiling today of the governor authenticated previous reports and speculations.
Moreso,in the final list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, for the November 11 Governorship election, Ekomaru’s name appeared in place of Ralph Nwosu whose name was there as ” Place Holder”
Imo is one of the five states in the South East of Nigeria grappling with activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB and Eastern Security Network ESN. Reports of kidnapping and brazen killing are daily features in local government areas such as Orlu, ,Ideato North , Ngor Okpalla,Oguta and Orsu.
