Imo: Tension as Uzodinma, Achonu, Anyanwu scramble for 2.3 million votes

As residents of Imo State head to the polls today, concerns are rising that insecurity and a lack of confidence in the electoral process may discourage eligible voters from participating in the exercise.

Imo State has been grappling with the activities of unknown gunmen and other non-state actors for over three years, posing a significant threat to today’s election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported registering 2,419,922 individuals for the election, with 2,318,919 having collected their PVCs.

Seventeen candidates are competing to unseat the incumbent Governor, Hope Uzodinma of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who is seeking a second term. However, only two are considered genuine threats to his reelection.

Political analysts and development experts in the state have projected how the incumbent governor and two other prominent candidates might share the 2.3 million votes.

Prof Uche Amadi, a university lecturer, pointed out that voter apathy is likely due to two main factors: insecurity and a lack of trust in INEC. He noted that people might be hesitant to risk their lives in crisis-ridden areas where incidents of violence, kidnappings, and other crimes have been recorded. Additionally, there is a prevailing belief that the electoral umpire is compromised and might favor the ruling party by declaring the APC the winner.

Of the 17 gubernatorial candidates, experts suggest that the competition is primarily between Uzodinma, Senator Athan Achonu of the Labour Party (LP), and Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Senator Achonu, known as the “One Arm General,” is seen as a strong contender with a commitment to the common good. His ‘aku ruoulo’ (invest home) plan has led to numerous industrial farms, making him a significant investor in Imo State.

Achonu supports the active involvement of local government, attributing it to the root cause of instability. His campaign received a boost from the visit of Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate, to the Kanu Nwankwo Sports Complex in Owerri.

On the other hand, PDP’s Senator Samuel Anyanwu, also known as Samdaddy, is a seasoned candidate aiming for his party’s third victory in Imo. Despite his extensive political experience, the internal dynamics of the PDP may pose challenges, as some party members remain displeased with his emergence in the contest.

As the candidates navigate through these challenges, the outcome of the election will become evident in the next few hours.