The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that any move by Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State to nominate his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as his successor in 2019 will be rejected by the people of the state.
Okorocha had declared on Monday, February 12, 2018, that he would support Nwosu, who is his chief of staff and husband to his first daughter, Uloma, to be governor should he decide to contest.
But responding to the governor’s declaration, Charles Ezekwem, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, said on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, that the state had gone beyond the stage of a father-in-law handing over political power to his son-in-law after eight years and mother handing over to his daughter as the first lady of the state.
Ezekwem said, “This family business will not work; the idea of Okorocha handing over power to his son-in-law after eight years will not work. This ‘familiocracy’ will be rejected because Imo people are highly educated and civilised.”
The PDP chairman announced that his party had started the process of ensuring that the party would reclaim the state in 2019.
Meanwhile, Okorocha has explained that Nwosu came to him, like many others, to seek his help to succeed in life, adding that he never knew he would one day marry the daughter.
The governor said this on Tuesday when the All Progressives Congress’ executives, leaders and traditional rulers from the Oguta Local Government Area visited him at the Government House to express their support for Nwosu.
He said, “I don’t sell my daughter. That was why I didn’t consider how wealthy or poor he was before I allowed him to marry my daughter even at the level God has placed me. I saw the hand of God in the whole thing. He has a future for himself. He has sincerity of purpose. He means well.