March 9 Poll: Buhari Storms A-Ibom, Imo Today

…Also To visit Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Taraba

Ahead of the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections, President Muhammadu Buhari will today March 4 storm Akwa Ibom and Imo states to say thank you to the people on his re-election and to campaign for All Progressives Congress, APC, candidates.

Other states that the President has scheduled to visit before the Saturday’s elections are Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto and Katsina.

Although the itinerary of the President’s visit to the states has not been made public, Vanguard gathered that President Buhari will hold a town hall meeting to thank the people for giving him the mandate for second term and also solicit votes for APC candidates for the election.

Apart from Katsina State that is being fully controlled by the ruling APC, other states like Akwa Ibom, Taraba and Sokoto are currently governed by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Imo and Kaduna states have high presence of the opposition party.

Recall that the former Senate Minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, lost his re-election bid in Akwa Ibom State (Ikot Ekpene district) despite his initial assurance that the state after three hours of election will be the first to be won by the APC.

In Imo State, there is internal wrangling between Governor Rochas Okorocha who was declared winner of the Orlu senatorial district ticket on the platform of APC and the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

Governor Okorocha who was few days ago suspended by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee, NWC of his party is working for the election of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance.

Apart from the duo of Uzodimma and Nwosu contesting in Saturday’s poll, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, of the PDP is one of the frontline contestants on as well as Senator Ifeanyi Ararume of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and former governor Ikedi Ohakim of the Accord Party.

While Governor Nasir el-Rufai is facing a challenge by the opposition elements in Kaduna State, Taraba and Sokoto states are currently under the control of the opposition PDP as governors.