The battle for the 2027 Imo governorship race is set to intensify, as Okigwe and Owerri zones lock horns in a struggle to determine the next successor to Governor Hope Uzodimma.
In a bold assertion of their political ambitions, leaders from Okigwe zone last week wrote to the Imo State Council of Elders, insisting on their entitlement to produce the state’s next governor in 2027.
This declaration directly contradicts Governor Uzodimma’s pre-election promise to cede power to Owerri zone in adherence to the Imo Charter of Equity—an agreement designed by the Imo State Council of Elders aimed at facilitating rotational governance among the state’s three geopolitical zones.
Despite Owerri zone’s claims of being shortchanged and having only held the governorship for a brief seven-month stint, Okigwe zone remains steadfast in its demand for a turn at the helm of affairs.
This demand is said to be fueled by a former governor from Okigwe zone, who has marshaled support from influential allies beyond the zone to challenge the status quo surrounding the Charter of Equity.
Critics of the Charter, notably from the camp of the former governor and his allies in Owerri zone, have lambasted the Charter of Equity as undemocratic, rejecting the notion of power being handed to Owerri zone on a silver platter.
Meanwhile, leaders of Owerri zone are mobilizing their forces, with former Minister of Interior, Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho, spearheading efforts to rally support for the zone’s bid to claim the governorship mantle in 2027.
While no official contenders have emerged from Owerri zone, the political landscape is abuzz with rumours of four top politicians from the zone poised to throw their hats into the ring.
As consultations and strategizing intensify on both sides, the battle lines are drawn for a fiercely contested gubernatorial race that will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of Imo State politics.