Tony Icheku in Owerri
There is no excitement in the air as Owerri, the Imo State capital awaits a huge turnout of politicians, notably from the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and other political heavy weights on Monday, January 15, 2024, for Governor Hope Uzodimma’s inauguration for a second term.
THISDAY gathered from sources close to the Inauguration Committee comprising over 100 prominent persons and chaired by former Senator Chris Anyanwu, that the inauguration would be preceded by a Thanksgiving Mass on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, to be presided over by the Metropolitan See of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji.
The swearing-in ceremony would be held at the largest sporting events centre in Owerri, Dan Anyiam Stadium, where preparations are in high gear for the event. A state banquet follows at Government House, Owerri, shortly after the inauguration.
The Committee is Co-chaired by Chief Cosmas Iwu, Secretary to the State Government, who also doubles as Secretary of the Committee who has been mandated to mobilise party supporters across the 27 LGAs of the State.
Uzodimma’s 540,308 votes, garnered across the 27 LGAs belie the sombre mood in the state after he was declared winner of the November 11, 2023 off-season Imo State governorship election, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Uzodimma, an ally of President Bola Tinubu, is the current Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), a forum of Nigerian governors elected on the platform of the APC.
Imo and Ebonyi States are the only two APC-controlled States in the South-East geo-political zone, thus the APC is expected to use the ceremony as a selling point as it ramps up its presence in the zone.
