As the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State prepares for the upcoming local government elections, Governor Hope Uzodimma faces a crucial decision: whether to allow party leaders to harmonize and select candidates or to personally handpick those who will represent the party in the chairmanship and councilorship races.
Several factors suggest that the governor may lean towards the latter, especially given the current political climate and the strategic considerations at play.
Governor Uzodimma has publicly warned APC aspirants against engaging in unethical practices, such as taking oaths or entering into allocation-sharing agreements with influential party leaders.
These practices, which have been rumored to be prevalent among some aspirants, pose a significant threat to the integrity of local governance.
By securing the support of powerful leaders through such means, these aspirants effectively become beholden to them, prioritizing the leaders’ interests over the needs of their constituencies.
The governor’s threat to disqualify any aspirant caught engaging in these practices is a strong stance, but it may not be enough if he allows the current leadership to produce candidates.
These leaders could easily program their chosen candidates to adhere to the allocation-sharing agreements or oath-bound loyalties, knowing that their positions are secure as long as Uzodimma’s influence pushes them to victory in the elections. In such a scenario, the governor’s warning becomes ineffective, and the true purpose of ensuring transparent and accountable governance is lost.
Maintaining Control Amidst Local Government Autonomy
The autonomy granted to local government chairmen across Nigeria has reshaped the power dynamics between state governors and local government officials.
With more control over their resources and administrative decisions, chairmen are less dependent on the state government, potentially limiting the governor’s influence at the grassroots level.
For Governor Uzodimma, allowing party leaders to select candidates for these powerful positions could result in a loss of control.
If leaders install their loyalists as chairmen and councillors, they could wield significant influence over local government affairs, potentially even outmaneuvering the governor himself.
These leaders could leverage their control to influence councillors to remove chairmen who do not toe their line, a feat the governor may find difficult to counter if he did not personally select the candidates.
By handpicking APC candidates, Governor Uzodimma can ensure that those elected are aligned with his administration’s goals and are not under the undue influence of party leaders with their own agendas.
This strategy would allow him to maintain a unified front within the party and ensure that local government officials remain accountable to the state government, thereby preserving his ability to govern effectively.
Balancing Power and Protecting Governance
Governor Uzodimma’s potential decision to handpick APC candidates is not just about maintaining control; it is also about balancing power within the party and the state.
The governor is keenly aware that the concentration of power in the hands of a few party leaders could destabilize the party and weaken the overall governance structure in Imo State.
By selecting candidates who are free from the influence of these leaders, the governor can prevent the rise of independent power centers that could challenge his authority and disrupt the administration’s efforts to deliver on its promises to the people.
Moreover, this approach would protect the integrity of local governance by ensuring that those elected are committed to serving their communities rather than advancing the interests of a select few.
However, allowing the aspirants to go to the field and conduct proper primaries might also ensure that the leaders do not manipulate the process and install their loyalists who might turn around tomorrow to work against Uzodimma.
It is worthy of note that once elected, Uzodimma would not have the power to unseat them and as they have their own allocation which comes directly to them, he would not be able to push them around.
Source: Issueshq.com