Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has reportedly dumped his deputy and picked a female candidate as running mate.
The Governor picked a female lawyer, Barr. Nnedinma Ekomaru, as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Uzodimma had submitted the name of Engr. Ralph Nwosu, the Commissioner for Works as the placeholder, which left room for lobbying and speculations for the slot.
An aide of the Governor, who pleaded anonymity said Barr. Ekomaru’s name has been formally submitted to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja as Uzodimma’s running mate.
Ekomaru is married to a senior lawyer, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
She hails from Umunoha community in Mbaitoli local government area of the State and has practiced for over 20 years as a lawyer.
Women groups had called on Uzodimma to pick a woman as his running mate.
Mrs Ekomaru, until now, was not considered a politician until her husband, Chief Chukwuma attempted to govern the state under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but didn’t win the primary election.