ragedy was miraculously averted on Saturday, January 27, 2019 when Mercedes Benz jeep suddenly skidded off the road and ran into a provision shop at Orji in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2019/01/tragedy-averted-in-owerri-as-mercedes-benz-jeep-overrun-into-shop/

Owerri, Imo State capital literally came to a halt on Friday when thousands of supporters and members of Action Alliance, AA flagged off its governorship campaign in the State.

The party’s governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu, who spoke to a mammoth crowd at the rally held at the Dan Anyiam Stadium vowed to consolidate on the achievements and performance of Governor Rochas Okorocha when elected into office.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2019/01/uche-nwosu-aa-hold-mega-rally-in-owerri/

The March 3, 2019 governorship and State Assembly elections is around the corner. Imo State is one of the States adjudged to be a “flashpoint” considering the intensity and ferocity of the governorship contest as displayed by the candidates.The contest can be said to be a seven horse race considering ongoing political permutations, changing political dynamics and increasing determination of the contenders to succeed.

Political pundits argue that the guber contest will be fierce as about 64 governorship candidates- the highest in the country- will file out to be voted for by a sophisticated and well informed Imo electorate.

The battle of wits had been limited to four candidates namely Senator Hope Uzodinma (APC), Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Arararume (APGA) and Uche Nwosu (AA) but such narrative is changing in a State political variables play out at will which makes nonsense of political forecasts and predictions.

In recent times, three governorship candidates and their political parties have sent clear signals that they are not in the race to add up to the numbers. They are candidates of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Okey Ezeh, United Progressive Party, UPP, Tony Nwulu and Accord Party, Ikedi Ohakim.

READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2019/01/guber-election-in-imo-its-a-six-horse-race/

At drink pubs, taxis and buses, those who discuss Imo politics tend to argue in favour of their choice candidates. Consideration is centered on clannish reasons or economic benefits. This made me conclude that the clamour to have a peoples Governor, one driven by a burning passion to give our dear State responsible leadership and good governance have taken flight from the minds of our people. It is so pathetic that at a time Imo State is hungry for a prosperous future, majority of our people are more interested in having those whom they work for or those whom they will benefit from their crumbs win the guber polls.

This should not be narrative. We are only going back to Egypt if we continue with this thought. Our people should be concerned on ensuring we get the best as our Governor in 2019.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2019/01/imo-guber-if-the-best-must-emerge/

Barely a month to the Presidential and National Assembly elections and less than 50 days to the governorship polls, the political tension in Imo State has indeed reached a feverish stage. The APC South East rally for women and youths in held Owerri at the weekend is an eye opener of the tension gaining momentum in the political turf of the State.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2019/01/before-political-tension-heightens-in-imo/

Some governorship candidates of various political parties were absent at a debate organised by a group with the name “Imo Community Europe”.

The debate took place at Rock view Hotel, Owerri.

Governorship candidates who took part in the exercise include PDP governorship candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, his SDP counterpart, Okey Ezeh, Linus Okorie of Young Progressive Party (YPP), Ikenna Emmanuel of Change Democratic Party, (CAP) and others.

Among those absent include Senator Hope Uzodinma (APC), Senator Ifeanyi Araraume (APGA), former Governor of Imo State and Accord Party candidate, Ikedi Ohakim, Hon.Tony Nwulu (UPP), Uche Nwosu ( AA) and many others. There are over 60 governorship candidates vying for Imo governorship election.

READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2019/01/imo-guber-debate-apc-aa-apga-upp-candidates-absent/

A powerful socio political group, Araraume Solidarity Movement, ASM, has constituted a “Political Election Army” aimed at protecting the votes of the APGA governorship candidate in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.

The group said it is part of its commitment to ensure the emergence of APGA governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, as next Governor of Imo State.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2019/01/imo-guber-araraume-gets-election-army/

The 2019 governorship election in Imo State is a very close contest judging from present political dynamics on ground. It will be difficult to predict a winner of the polls as indications are clear that none of the candidates have developed a very clear edge over the other.
READ IMO:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/12/imo-guber-race-tight-contest-too-close-to-call-part-i/

Imo State has the highest number of governorship candidates in the South East. 60 in all, an unprecedented and frightening number.Not even the least position in a lucrative oil firm in Nigeria has attracted such number of applicants.

As scary as the number of candidates are, it shows the resolve of some concerned Imo sons and daughters to take the State to the next level when any of them is elected as Governor.

However, the quality of candidates jostling to be the State Governor in 2019 remains a big puzzle. Research shows they come from various field of human endeavour, an indication that the State parade galaxy of credible persons who want to preside over the fate of over 5 million people.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/12/imo-guber-a-congregation-of-the-good-bad-and-ugly/

As the 2019 general elections draws close,Professional Bodies and Associations are coming together to forge a formidable front in Imo State in a bid to enthrone good governance. They are to collapse into an Amalgamation.

The Amalgamation is formed by professional bodies and key organizations in Imo State, including the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

Other groups include Olu Owerri, Olu Okigwe and Orluzurumee. They are the apex socio political groups who champion the political interests and rights of the three geo political zones in Imo State namely Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.

Others involved in the Amalgamation include NANS, NYCN, the academia, Imo State Newspaper Publishers, media Executives, Amalgamated Traders Union, Imo Town Unions and others.
READ MORE: https://innonews.com.ng/2018/12/imo-politics-professional-bodies-associations-unite-for-good-governance/

Elections in Imo State, the heartbeat of South East Nigeria are always contentious, intriguing. This is the reason a Governor was elected twice through a supplementary election.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/12/imo-a-venue-for-political-gymnastics/

17 members of the House of the APC extraction and 2 PDP members have joined the Action Alliance, AA. In all, 19 lawmakers have crossed over to the AA.

Governor Rochas Okorocha son in law and former Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu had decamped to the AA after losing the APC governorship ticket.

The lawmakers who defected to the AA include the Speaker, Acho Ihim, Majority Leader, Hon. Lugard Osuji, Chief Whip and the Minority Whip.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/12/17-apc-2-pdp-imo-lawmakers-defect-to-aa/

There is a major rift in Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as ” New Imo PDP” has emerged.

Chairman of n PDP, Imo State, Fabian Ihekweme at a press conference in Owerri said the PDP in the State has been in disarray in the aftermath of the failed congresses and primary elections.

According to Ihekweme, he said the N Imo PDP was formed because of the impunity and manipulations that greeted the governorship primary election of the party that left party faithful disappointed and sullen hearted which led to seeking remedy in the court of law to determine the real winner of the said primary election.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/breakingimo-n-pdp-emerges/

The Imo Awareness Coalition, IAC, a political watchdog group based in Owerri, Imo State has said there is need for Imo people to place emphasis on electing a Governor in 2019, who has the capacity to steer the ship of governance in the State that will take the State away from further economic ruin.
READ MOREhttps://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/ica-opens-up-on-qualities-of-next-governor-of-imo-state/

President Muhammadu Buhari has been adopted by the United Progressive Party, UPP for the 2019 general elections.

UPP National Chairman, Chekwas Okorie, announced the adoption after meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/2019upp-adopts-buhari-as-presidential-candidate/

As the 2019 governorship election draws near, the governorship candidate of the All Grand Alliance Party, AGAP, Mr. Okonya Edwards has raised an alarm alleging that some persons had offered millions of naira to sell his guber ticket.

He said he was able to resist the temptation to pave way for highly placed persons in Imo State from hijacking the party.

Speaking to newsmen, he said “I resisted it because to me Money is not everything in life and one cannot forget that we came to this world with nothing and we will go back to God with nothing.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/imo-agap-guber-candidate-i-resisted-temptation-to-sell-my-ticket/

Native Doctors in Ebonyi, under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners, NANTMP have endorsed Governor David Umahi for second term in office come 2019. They made their decision known during a solidarity march in support of the Governor on the streets of Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/ebonyi-native-doctors-endorse-gov-umahi/

More fireworks has continued between Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole.

Oshiomole had forwarded the name of Senator Hope Uzodinma as governorship candidate of the APC in Imo State. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had on Friday published Uzodinma’s name as Governorship candidate of the party.

Okorocha is backing his son in law, Uche Nwosu for the APC governorship ticket.Oshiomole had said he will not allow Okorocha build a political dynasty in Imo State.

But in a statement on Sunday signed by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemedo, the Imo State Governor accused Oshiomole of building a family dynasty in Edo State.

READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/okorocha-oshiomole-has-built-a-family-dynasty-in-edo-state/

There is heightening tension in the Imo State House of Assembly after an Owerri High Court reinstated four members of the Assembly suspended by the leadership of the House.

Upon their reinstatement, they moved for their pound flesh having stormed the House last Wednesday. Reports said they were after the impeachment of the leadership of the House which will pave the way for the impeachment of the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/tension-in-imo-assembly-heightens/

There is no ceasefire in sight between Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/okorocha-oshiomole-fight-gets-messier/

An Owerri High Court has nullified the suspension of four members of the Imo State House of Assembly.

The Court said the suspension was the height of impunity
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/court-nullifies-suspension-of-four-imo-lawmakers/

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Thursday opened up on details of his private meeting with President Muhhamadu Buhari on at the State House, Abuja concerning the lingering battle for the governorship ticket of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State.

Speaking to newsmen after meeting the President, he said the presidency is not in support of what the party’s national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole was doing in some States.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/imo-apc-crisis-okorocha-opens-up-after-meeting-buhari/

Barely 24 hours to the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for political parties to submit names of candidates, some governorship aspirants who lost out in the scramble for party tickets in their former parties are in last minute defections.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/11/inec-deadline-guber-aspirants-in-imo-in-last-minute-defections/

The remains of the first female High Court Judge of old Imo State comprising Imo,Abia and Ebonyi States, Late Justice (Mrs) C.I Uche (retd) will be buried on November 17, 2018 at Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

The late jurist was also a retired High Court Judge in the old Imo State and a foundation Judge of the Abia State Judiciary.

According to a statement by the family signed by Chris Uche (SAN), activities lined up for her funeral include a night of tributes at the International Conference Centre, Abuja to be held on Sunday, 11th November, 2018.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/late-old-imo-state-first-female-judge-justice-uche-for-interment-nov-16/

The governorship flag bearer of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has picked a former governorship aspirant, Steve Nwoga as his running mate.

Nwoga comes from the Mbaise bloc in Owerri zone confirming this newspaper speculation that the senator may choose his running mate from the zone to enhance his chances in the 2019 governorship election in Imo State.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/apga-the-undercurrents-that-influenced-the-choice-of-nwoga-as-araraumes-running-mate/

Indications emerged at the weekend that the All Progressive Grand Alliance may calm the frayed nerves of aggrieved governorship aspirants in Imo State by exploring the option of refunding them of huge funds they expended.

This is said to be part of measures to restore peace and unity in the party plagued by crisis over the controversial governorship primary in Imo State.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/controversial-primary-apga-may-refund-angry-guber-aspirants/

The jostle for Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s running mate may have began in earnest.

Araraume is the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Imo State.

With Araraume coming from Okigwe zone, his running mate will certainly come from Owerri and Orlu zones.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/imo-guber-2019who-will-be-senator-ifeanyi-araraumes-running-mate/

Following media reports that the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, ANRP, is boiling over an MOU with legacy party, the Imo State governorship candidate of the party, Prof Alphonsus Ekwerike has said there is no crisis ravaging the ANRP over the matter.

In a statement availed to this newspaper by his media office, Ekwerike said he led his campaign organisation, Project Nehemiah, to present a memorandum of Understanding with the legacy party aimed at enhancing his guber ambition in the 2019 governorship election in Imo State.
READ MORE: https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/imo-anrp-guber-candidate-ekwerike-opens-up-on-mou-with-legacy-party/

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has reacted to comments credited to the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa Onilu, who said he (Okorocha) and two other governors are bad losers to the party primaries in Imo and other States.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemedo, Okorocha said Mr. Onilu is sending a bad signal about the party to the world.

The Statement reads:

“We have read in the media certain statements credited to the Acting National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, in which he described some governors of the Party’s extraction as bad losers with regard to the Party’s Primaries. He named Governor Okorocha as one of such bad losers, and never exercised caution in talking about the situations in the affected states.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/okorocha-reacts-to-apc-branding-him-a-bad-loser/

The All Progressive Congress, APC has said it has enough time to officially name the governorship candidate of the party in Imo State.

This was revealed by Lanre Onilu, the party’s National Publicity Secretary who spoke in Abuja on the party’s position on Zamfara, Rivers and Imo States.

He said the party would comply with the court decision on the submission of governorship candidate of the party in Imo.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/apc-opens-up-on-guber-candidate-for-imo-2/

The drumbeats of war may not be over in the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Imo State.

The party has been in turmoil lately since 12 governorship aspirants fumed at the party’s governorship primaries won by Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.

The aspirants say there were no primary election accusing the national and State leadership of the party of manipulating the process to favour Araraume.

The angry aspirants had pulled out of APGA forming what it called a “New APGA” . It had also announced that it has sacked the party leadership at the national and state levels.
READ MORE:https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/imo-2019-fresh-rumble-in-apga/

Hon. Obinna Mbata is an enigma, an exceptional character and a perfect gentleman.

He represents one of the emerging leaders of contemporary Imo politics. Not a core politician, he is a reflection of new generation of leaders who understands and sees politics as a platform to bequeath good governance that will lead to the well being of the people.

An encounter with the Amawom born Owerri Municipal banker and lawyer reveals a man with amiable mien, humble, humane and soft spoken with sharp eye for details on any issue.This could be attributed to his training as a banker, lawyer and a humble family background.

Mbata is an interviewer’s delight. He radiates so much confidence, calm and a good communicator who knows how to convey his views. No air of arrogance or display of insensitivity that usually goes with public office holders.

READ MORE: https://innonews.com.ng/2018/10/obinna-mbata-owerri-federal-reps-seat-and-symbol-for-credible-representation/