By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Speculations are rife that the Chief of Protocol to Governor Willie Obiano, Mr Uzuegbunam Okagbue, a.k.a Uzu, has concluded plans to go to the Senate to represent Anambra Central as Obiano prepares to leave office in March.

Information has it that Uzu has made extensive plans to ensure that he goes to the Senate, on the ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), just as it was learnt that the governor is strongly supporting his move.

According to an inside source, “Since he started thinking of that aspiration, there has been a huge shift, away from some other prominent people who are running for the same position, because Oga is in support of him.

“He also has a lot of advantage and wields a lot of influence, just as he is stinkingly rich. Many of the people who met and found favour in Obiano, either through appointments or contracts, are supporting him.

“Most of these social media people you see who post things, hyping one contestant or the other for the position of Senate in Anambra Central will not even continue once he declares fully, because some of them owe their appointments or favours to him.”

Another source said Okagbue’s ambition has made some youths working for another senatorial aspirant in the party, Senator Victor Umeh, to withdraw from making posts about him as they believe that Okagbue is a better prospect for the party, considering his youthfulness.

Okagbue, a former banker from Umunachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, has served as the Chief Protocol of Governor Willie Obiano for eight years is said to have a rich background, apart from being super rich himself.

Meanwhile, to back up the speculation that Okagbue is ready to run against Umeh to clinch the ticket of the party, billboards bearing the inscription ‘UZU’ have sprang up in various locations in Anambra Central.

Many have supported the aspiration, saying that the Nigerian Senate will need a cerebral and vibrant young man like him to elevate the debates and representation of Anambra Central, a position currently being held by Senator, Iyom Uche Ekwunife.

His declaration will spell a fierce battle for the ticket in his party as he would slug it out with Senator Victor Umeh, a former national chairman of the party, and Hon. Dozie Nwankwo, a current member of the House of Representatives.

Senator Umeh was replaced in the Senate by Senate Ekwunife after only eight months of representation. Hon. Nwankwo is currently the House member representing Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha federal constituencies in the House of Representatives.

He is currently serving his second tenure and has expressed a desire to his political allies that he wants to move from the green to red chamber in 2023.

Efforts to reach Okagbue on his mobile phone to ascertain if he was truly gunning for the race failed as his phone was inaccessible.

Update news