The United Progressive Party, UPP in Imo State have received a major boost as a leading governorship aspirant, Hon.Tony Nwulu has doled out several millions of naira to aid the operations of the party.
The funds are to be used for the equipping of the party in the 27 local governments in Imo State and fortify it in the 305 wards across the State.
In addition to this, Nwulu, a member of the House of Representatives representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency who is in pole position to win the the party’s governorship ticket on Friday at its Primary, had also donated cash, an SUV Jeep to the State Party Chairman and two brand new buses for the Women and Youth leaders of the party respectively.
Political pundits had rated the UPP as one of the major political parties in contention to win governorship seat of Imo State as the party has engaged in massive grassroots mobilization to shape up its chances at the polls. The recent donations by Nwulu has further energized the party.
The UPP has also been tipped to re-enact the 2007 political drama in Imo State when little known and less fancied Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA overran a big political party such as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to win the governorship election with Chief Ikedi Ohakim as it’s candidate.
Judging from present political calculations in the State, the UPP which put up an impressive performance in the 2015 governorship election is very much likely to spring up surprises in the coming polls in Imo.
Free from rancour and acrimony, the entrance of Hon.Tony Nwulu into the party has given it so much firepower as it jostle for various elective posts in the 2019 elections in Imo State.
Nwulu, the initiator of the Not Too Young To Run Act which has encouraged active youth involvement in politics and governance across the country, had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the UPP, a party adjudged to have aligned its interest to the Igbos with bias for the progress and welfare of the masses.
His recent donations to the UPP in Imo State is reminiscent to similar donations he had made to the PDP in the State where he doled out two buses to the Woman and Youth Leaders of the party.
Sources within the UPP in Imo State had revealed to this newspaper that Nwulu’s donations and other numerous contributions has made the UPP attractive and a viable political platform for some desperate politicians who are contemplating dumping their original political parties for the UPP after the primaries.
With the depth of political firepower hovering around the UPP and rising acceptability by majority of Imolites, there are strong indications that some politicians ostensibly exhibiting high level desperation to realize their ambitions at all costs are making moves to join the UPP in the State in the event their political aspirations crash like a pack of cards after the primaries in their parties.
Imo State Chairman of the UPP, Mr.Innocent Njoku attested to the fact that since Hon Tony Nwulu joined the UPP, the party has continued to blossom.
“Hon Nwulu is such a wonderful man. With his contributions to the party in Imo State, the party has become a major contender for 2019 in Imo State. The UPP has now become the party to beat.
“With God on his side and with what is going on politically in Imo State, Hon.Nwulu and the UPP now stands a good chance to win the governorship come 2019” Njoku said
Some party members who also spoke to this newspaper said their doors remain open to anyone willing to join the party but cautioned that there is no room for “political razzmatazz” in the party as the UPP has been noted for being rancour free and committed to sticking to its motto of love and unity.
Mr. Nonye Nwosu, a top chieftain of the party in Imo State also commended Hon Nwulu for the recent donations to the party and called on other politicians to emulate him.
“We lack words to commend him for his efforts geared towards rebuilding our party for 2019 elections in Imo State
“Our party is open for all. We welcome those who sincerely want to join us and advance our ideology. We now have solid presence across the 27 local governments and the 305 wards in Imo State. Our membership is growing rapidly and many Imolites are embracing the party because of what it represents
“Courtesy of Hon Tony Nwulu and his Mezie Imo Movement, the UPP has come back to life in Imo State and I must confess that in the coming elections in the State, we will not be a pushover.
“At the same time we will not allow anyone who wants to come and join us simply because such a person is so desperate to use the party to further his or her selfish political ambitions and cause disharmony in the party” he warned
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