Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho on Saturday gave the clearest signal he is backing Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir as his preferred successor.

Joho made the revelation during the 9th edition of lighting the governor’s Christmas tree ceremony held outside the governor’s office.

The move by Joho who is also the ODM Deputy party leaders is expected to create political waves within the party in Mombasa even as ODM party leader Raila Odinga who is in Mombasa for a working vacation stated that the party was not going to endorse anyone.

“I will be back here to support my brother so that we move forward, I want to tell you my brother Nassir, this is the journey and we have already laid the path for you,” said Joho.

The body language between the two has been very suggestive in recent times as they have been spotted in several public functions together exchanging pleasantries with Joho seeming to be transferring his political campaign machinery to Nassir.

The two were on Sunday spotted together with other Mombasa political leaders as Raila held a meeting with elders drawn from the six Mombasa sub-counties at the Sheikh Khalifa school hall.

Nassir, a two-time member of parliament for Mvita enjoys the political backing of Mps Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Asha Mohammed (County Woman Rep) and Mombasa senator Mohammed Faki among a host of members of county assembly of Mombasa.

“We will continue living in harmony and co-existence, secondly I want to extend an invite to you my brother (Joho) to be the chief guest for next year’s governor’s Christmas lighting ceremony,” said a confident Nassir.

Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib who also spoke at the event continued to rally his support behind Nassir calling on the clergy and people present support Nassir’s bid to succeed Joho.

“I want to tell you my brother Nassir, come 2022, those who looked at you and despised you are going to great you with respect,” said Twalib.

His sentiments were echoed by his Likoni counterpart Mishi Mboko who said that as Joho climbs the political ladder to focus on national politics, Mombasa needed a leader that is well versed with Mombasa issues and has been tried and tested.

“I will not mince my words, the best person fit to take over from Joho is non-other than Abdulswamad Nassir, we know and understand him very well, he is a humble person, accessible and understands the people of Mombasa,” said Mboko.

Nassir, however faces serious competition from his political nemesis businessman-cum-politician Suleiman Shahbal who also expressed his interest to replace Joho at the helm of the county using the ODM party.

The two will battle it out in what is expected to be a titanic political showdown during the party primaries expected to be held early next year over who will fly the ODM flag for the Mombasa gubernatorial race.