Owerri — Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has directed public officers who desire to contest elective positions in next year's general elections to resign and hand over to the most senior officers in their areas of jurisdiction.

The directive was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the governor's Principal Secretary, Dr. Paschal Obi.The governor also refuted allegations that he was sponsoring Secretary to the State Government (SSG), George Eche, to contest the governorship primaries against his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu.

In a statement issued by Okorocha's Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor noted that he was also not under any pressure over Nwosu's governorship bid.He stressed that he had been inundated with calls on the matter since it came out to public domain, wondering whether Eche actually said he got his (Okorocha's) support.

"The governor never asked Eche to go for the 2019 governorship either directly or through a proxy. In other words, he is not aware of Eche's governorship aspiration," the statement added.