By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

The speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Acho Ihim has denied that the house endorsed Chief Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law and chief of staff to the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the next governor of the state come 2019.

The member representing Oguta State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Uzoma Ezediaro had weekend declared that the members of the State House of Assembly were ready to revolt against the governor of the State if he relented in giving his support to his youthful Chief of Staff, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu to succeed him in 2019 as the next governor of the state.

The lawmaker, who heads the House committee on Petroleum, gave indication that the ongoing misunderstanding between some members of the Imo State House Assembly which had dominated the news recently was not unconnected to the desire by the House members to see the governor endorse his son-in-law whom he said the lawmakers believed was "the most qualified candidate to succeed Okorocha at this time in order to continue the numerous good works of the man we have variously described as the Chief Rescuer of Imo State".

Chief Ezediaro who spoke to some journalists in his residence in Owerri affirmed that he had the mandate of his colleagues to make the declaration in order to end speculations in some quarters regarding where the loyalty of the House members lie.
But reacting to Ezediaro's statements, the speaker of the House, Chief Acho Ihim through a statement signed by his press secretary, Marcel Ekwezuo, said, he was constrained to debunk the news making rounds that the lmo State House of Assembly had unanimously endorsed Ugwunba Uche Nwosu as the next Governor of lmo State come 2019.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Ugwunba Uche Nwosu is one of our own and is eminently qualified to contest for the governorship of our dear Imo State. Apparently, he is a member of our ruling APC and a citizen of lmo State. All these therefore give him the right to vote and or be voted for.

"However, it needs to be made clear that at no time did the members of lmo State House of Assembly which comprises elected members of APC and PDP meet and endorse Ugwunba Uche Nwosu as their preferred governorship candidate or any person for that matter", the statement reads in part.

The speaker pointed out that the job of elected members of the House of Assembly remained to make laws and take resolutions at the plenary that impact positively on the lives of the people of lmo State, saying "endorsement of candidates for whatever position is no doubt not part of it.

He however stated that while each member was at liberty to have preference for any aspirant of their choice, such preference should not constitute a house matter.

"It is therefore mind -boggling that a distinguished honourable member is quoted to have granted a press conference declaring that the 27 honourable members have endorsed Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.

"But it has to be pointed out that it is the duty of APC as a party to produce a candidate. If that candidate is Ugwumba Uche Nwosu then the honourable members of APC extraction are duty bound to deliver the candidate", the statement said.

The speaker therefore advised the people of the state to discountennance the said publication as "that of course is the figment of imagination of the writer and has no bearing with lmo State House of Assembly and her revered members".

http://orientdailynews.com.ng/politics/guber-speaker-denies-okorochas-son/

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