With the 2027 governorship race in Imo State just two years away, political activity is intensifying in Owerri Zone, which has been earmarked as the zone likely to produce the next governor in line with the Imo Charter of Equity.
Four prominent politicians from the zone within the All Progressives Congress (APC) have already begun taking bold steps to position themselves for the party’s gubernatorial ticket.
While there have been widespread speculations that over 30 prominent APC politicians from Owerri Zone are eyeing the governorship seat in 2027, an in-depth investigation by this newspaper reveals that only four of them are genuinely serious for now. These four aspirants have already taken strategic steps to contest, with a primary focus on securing the party’s governorship ticket.
However, other potential aspirants have chosen to keep their ambitions under wraps, reasoning that it is premature to actively pursue their governorship bids at this stage. They believe there is little point in making overt moves, as the ultimate decision on who succeeds Governor Hope Uzodimma will likely come from the governor himself, who is expected to select his successor from within the party and his political circle.
Despite the race being two years off and Governor Uzodimma yet to visibly commence succession plans, findings by INNONEWS reveal that four of the intending aspirants are leaving nothing to chance in their quest to secure the APC ticket, particularly because of the Governor’s strong influence in the party’s candidate selection process.
A high-ranking member of the APC in Imo State who spoke to this newspaper in Abuja, emphasized the important role the governor plays in determining who gets the party’s ticket.
“The governor’s influence on the final decision could make or break any aspirant’s chances,” the source stated.
As a result, few of the aspirants within the party in the zone have been strategically building strong relationships with the governor and his key allies within the party to increase their chances of receiving the coveted endorsement.
“Given the influence the governor wields in the party, the aspirants understand that aligning with key figures in his administration could be the game-changer they need to secure the nomination.There is a lot of behind-the-scenes politicking going on.” said the source.
In December 2024, one of the aspirants made a significant move by inaugurating a comprehensive political structure designed to garner widespread support across Owerri Zone. The structure, sources say, aims to cover all local government areas and lay the groundwork to rally support. The move has been interpreted as a clear sign of the aspirant’s seriousness and commitment to building a strong base within the party.
Another contender who crossed over to the APC last year, in early January 2025 assembled a Think Tank of seasoned political associates, allies, friends, strategists and advisers to analyze the political terrain viz- viz the internal political dynamics within the party. This team, this newspaper was told, is tasked with evaluating the aspirant’s chances and formulating strategies to improve his positioning before the primaries in less than two years time.
“The aspirant is playing the long game. He is taking time to critically assess the political landscape. This Think Tank is an important tool in crafting a winning strategy.”said a source familiar with the development.
The level of activity among these four aspirants thus far, shows the major role Owerri Zone is expected to play in the 2027 governorship race. With the Imo Charter of Equity set to rotate the governorship seat among the three zones—Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri—many believe 2027 represents the best opportunity for Owerri Zone to produce the next governor.
“The Imo Charter of Equity has created an undeniable expectation that the governorship will come to Owerri Zone in 2027. This has ignited a surge of political activity, with many APC chieftains in Owerri zone positioning themselves to take advantage of this rare opportunity.” said a senior political figure in the state. “
