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Forming a New Cabinet: Likey Names Hope Uzodimma May Appoint SSG, Chief of Staff

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Governor Hope Uzodinma

As Governor Hope Uzodimma keeps people of Imo waiting on who becomes his key aides as Secretary to the Imo State Government, SSG and Chief of Staff, ekwutosblog can reveal names of those who may be considered for the position.

Uzodimma is yet to name key officials after his inauguration for Second Term on January 15, 2024.

Unlike in the first tenure he quickly named Chief Cosmas Iwu and Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie as SSG and Chief of Staff respectively, his second tenure is wearing a new look suggesting the time he has consumed before the announcement.

Since Okigwe Zone had the SSG in Iwu who was with Uzodimma for four years, there is likelihood that should Iwu fail to return, another Okigwe person may be given the chance.

In the zone and enjoying the confidence of the governor is Chief Mrs Ruby Emele.

Emele from Isiala Mbano is a die-hard Hopist who has been with the governor since their days in PDP. Since the governor came on board in 2020, Emele has been among the top shots of the APC holding sensitive position.

Sources close to the governor disclose that Emele has the ears of the confidence and enjoys strong confidence which made Uzodimma give her the Bureau of Local Government And Chieftaincy Office where she functioned as a Special Adviser before rising to a Commissioner for the same position.

Among those who hail from Okigwe Zone, Emele is a priced one likely to be considered for SSG. It was gathered that the smooth  manner she handled the LGA affairs for the period exited the governor to give her another trial.

Another candidate likely to get the nod for SSG is immediate past Speaker, Rt Hon Emeka Nduka. Nduka was the only APC candidate who ran for the Imo State House of Assembly in 2019 election that succeeded in becoming a House Member.

The former Ehime Mbano lawmaker got the speakership position courtesy of Uzodimma and findings have it that within the brief period he held sway his capacity speaks volumes which may warrant Uzodimma giving him a consideration for the position.

After leaving office as Speaker, Nduka maintains a rosy relationship with Uzodimma even as there are unconfirmed reports that since the governor didn’t facilitate him an APC  second term ticket to return to the House, the SSG position may be a compensation for the loss.

Not left out in the bracket of those who may get the position is former Youths and Sports Commissioner, Chief Emeka Okoronwkwo. Okoronwkwo from Okigwe LGA was recently removed from office like others but ekwutosblog gathered that the opportunity to serve earned him recognition from the governor. The success of returning Heartland FC of Owerri back to premier league and also doing the needful in several aspects of governance may force Uzodimma to look his side.

If the connection of Chief Tony Chukwu in Government House Owerri is still relevant, his brother, Francis Chukwu may also be in the capture list. It was learnt that to carry along some political leaders along in the state, family members of top shots in the state will be considered.

In view of the above, the brother of former governor Ikedi Ohakim, Dr Emma Ohakim may also come in here. Since Ohakim was unable to become Senator after showing interest to represent Okigwe Zone and missing Ministerial appointment, hooking the brother who also tasted power as Chief of Staff may be a compensation to the family in the category of SSG.

For the Chief of Staff position, latter revelations from insiders in the Uzodimma political family have it that despite the delay it would be difficult for the governor to drop Anyaehie.

ekwutosblog was told that Uzodimma is Anyaehie and Anyaehie is Uzodimma. That despite different parenthood, both share several things in common and can be likened to Siaseme twins.

 ekwutosblog recalls that apart from having affinity that has spanned more than a decade in the political scene, Anyaehie became PDP chairman, Imo State through the magnanimity of Uzodimma. If their past relationship is considered, then Anyaehie will still be back to Govt House, Owerri as the Chief of Staff.

But should the opposite be the case where Anyaehie doesn’t return, Trumpeta learnt that there other strong loyalists that may be given a chance.

One of them is Chinasa Nwaneri, a popular influential  figure and backbone of the governor. The story of Uzodimma in the field of politics cannot be told without Chinasa who during the past four years was spotted anywhere the governor was. During the eight years Uzodimma spent in the National Assembly, Abuja, Chinasa from Nkwerre was available. Irrespective of insinuations surrounding their relationship, both are said to be partners in governance where the governor may rely on him as COS.

Also among those to catch the searchlight of Uzodimma for the Chief of Staff is APC chairman in Imo State,  Macdonald Kelechi Ebere PhD.

Ebere, another strong loyalist of Uzodimma to be on consideration for the Chief of Staff is very close to the governor who has also enjoyed preserved appointments as Entraco GM, and latter APC State Chairman.

Those that can’t be left out in the schedule for consideration for the the Office of Chief I’d Staff are Barr Emeka Agbo, a notable Uzodimma loyalist and Sir Ifeanyi Oruh. Both fall into the category of “Uzodimma Boys” who stand a chance for the position.

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PDP to screen Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday as its sole Presidential aspirant For 2027 race

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has scheduled to screen former president Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow, Tuesday, aMay 19, as the lone presidential candidate of party.

According to a statement from the PDP faction backed by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former governor of Plateau State, Jona Jang and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi have been listed among a committee of 14 members to screen Jonathan described as a lone candidate by the party.

Other members of the committee were Chief Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenin, Dr. Abdul Bulama, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Edo State PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, Dr. Sunday Solarium and Chief Anicho Okoro, who would serve as administrative secretary of the committee.

Last week, the national Publicity Secretary of the faction, Ini Ememobong, disclosed that former president Jonathan has successfully registered as a member of the party in the fresh digital registration exercise directed by INEC.

The PDP faction also announced that it was set to screen 748 house of representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, and 112 governorship aspirants.

The screening committee would screen 2122 states houses of assembly aspirants. The exercise will commence tomorrow, Tuesday in different states.

According to the statement, the screening exercise would take place nationwide on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

The statement said the Interim National Working Committee (iNWC) has also released the names of members to serve on the Screening Committees and Screening Appeal Panels.

It added that the publication of the screening details “is in accordance with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.”

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Oshiomhole wins Edo APC senatorial primaries unopposed

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A former governor and incumbent Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, along with his counterpart Senator Joe Ikpea, sailed through the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary in Edo unopposed, and securing their tickets without a single vote cast against them.

Also Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama emerged the winner in the APC primary for the Edo South senatorial district.

Ogbeide-Ihama won in the seven local government areas of Edo South in the results announced by the Chairman of APC National Assembly Primary Election, Muhammed Ajana at the Urokpota Hall, Benin.

He polled 27,154 votes while his opponents, Senator Neda Imasuen, got 13,580, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu got 6785.

The elections were hitch-free in Edo North and Edo Central, where there was no contest against the incumbents, Senators Oshiomhole of Edo North and Ikpea of Edo Central, respectively.

Ajana at the Urokpota Hall said the collation arose from votes cast in the seven local government areas made up of 77 wards where elections were conducted by members of the committee.

He said, “There are seven local governments that make up the Edo South Senatorial District. We have heard from the Returning officers from the seven local government areas. From the collation, the cumulative result we have for Edo South Senatorial District is this; Ogbeide-Ihama with 27,154 votes, Imasuen with 13,580 votes and Ize-Iyamu with 6, 785.

“This is the total reflection of what has transpired from the ward level to the local government and the Edo South senatorial district collation centre. With this we await further directives from the National Secretariat, we have done our best by collating the results which is our mandate, to collate the results and send them to the National Secretariat.”

However, it was gathered that Ize-Iyamu emerged as the APC candidate for Edo South Senatorial race. He claimed to have clinched the party’s ticket after defeating Ogbeide-Ihama and Imasuen.

It was claimed that the Chief Returning Officer, Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, officially declared Ize-Iyamu the winner after securing the highest number of votes cast.

On his part, the senator representing the district condemned the exercise describing it as a sham allegedly designed to favour a preferred aspirant.

Imasuen spoke while reacting to events at his polling unit in Umagbae North Ward 5, Urhokuosa where he said he was denied the opportunity to vote following what he described as a chaotic and manipulated process.

The lawmaker accused leaders of the party of openly adopting a preferred candidate ahead of the exercise and intimidating members into supporting that aspirant.

He said, “There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of election they did today and it is very unfortunate because as a loyal party member, I expected something better than this.”

He said the warning signs emerged days before the primary when some ward chairmen allegedly informed him that they had been directed not to receive him during consultations.

Imasuen claimed that some ward leaders openly told him the party had already adopted a preferred aspirant, identified as Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, making further consultations unnecessary.

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Ajuloopin Suffers Setback as Home Ward Rejects Third Term Return Bid in Kwara APC Primary

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The re-election bid of the member representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi, popularly known as Ajuloopin, suffered a major setback on Friday after party members in his home ward, Omu-Aran Ward 1, boycotted the All Progressives Congress APC House of Representatives primary.

According to party stakeholders and observers present at the exercise, no valid election took place in the ward after members refused to participate in protest against what they described as the lawmaker’s poor performance after three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.

Sources in the ward said efforts by some political figures and loyalists to persuade members to back Ajuloopin’s ambition failed, with party faithful insisting they would not endorse what they termed an attempt to impose his candidacy again.

The boycott led to a breakdown of the electoral process in Omu-Aran Ward 1, with many members staying away from the polls entirely. Stakeholders have called on the APC Electoral Committee to disregard any result purportedly presented from the ward, arguing that no credible primary was conducted there.

Political observers in the constituency described the development as a significant blow to Ajuloopin, noting that the rejection came from his own ward and among constituents most familiar with his record.

Preliminary reports from other parts of Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero local government areas, where voting proceeded, also indicated weak support for the incumbent. Many party members were said to have voted for alternative aspirants.

APC stakeholders have urged the party leadership to review reports from affected wards and accept only authentic and verifiable results to preserve the credibility of the primaries. They stressed that internal democracy was critical to the party’s prospects in the constituency and warned against imposing unpopular candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

With tension rising across the federal constituency, party faithful said the leadership must listen to grassroots members and allow delegates and supporters to determine the outcome of the primaries.

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