Uzodimma unveils running mate, drops deputy

Imo state helmsman, Governor Hope Uzodimma has formally unveiled his Chinyere Ekomaru, as his running mate, ahead of the governorship election which will be held on November 11, 2023

The unveiling ceremony took place in Owerri on Saturday.

He defended his decision to dump Placid Njoku, his incumbent deputy, and choose Mrs Ekomaru. Uzodimma said: “The choice of a new running mate does not mean I have issues with the present Deputy Governor Placid Njoku.

“The development is due to ecumenical and political permutations.”

With this, Uzodimma has upped his game to face the challenge of the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance, AA, Lincoln Ogunewe; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Labour Party, LP, Senator Athan Achonu, among others.

Both Senator Anyanwu and Ogunewe are from Imo East, while Senator Athan is Imo North and Uzodimma, Imo West.

Ahead of the election, however, security is a major issue, especially the burning of houses, killings of residents, underdevelopment in the rural areas, and workers’ welfare have remained at the front burner.