As Nigeria braces for the 2027 general elections, the political landscape in Imo State is heating up with notable realignments and strategic maneuvering by key players.
With aspirations for the Government House in Owerri, some prominent politicians in the state are reportedly exploring alternative platforms to advance their ambitions.
Recent developments suggest the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is emerging as a potential hub for these disillusioned politicians.
Sources reveal to INNONEWS that dissatisfaction with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is driving this shift.
Last month, the party’s spokesman and legal Adviser had quit the party for the Mazi Movement, run by billionaire business mogul and guber hopeful, Chima Amadi.
Also, Governor Hope Uzodimma’s declaration at a stakeholders’ meeting with Owerri zone leaders last Monday that the APC would produce his successor has left some gubernatorial hopefuls in the State who are in the party to consider other options. They contend that no one outside the Governor’s political family in the APC would pick the governorship ticket of the party.
The recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai from the APC to the SDP has further fueled this trend. El-Rufai’s move has reportedly inspired several disenchanted APC members nationwide, including in Imo, to reevaluate their political futures.
Analysts predict this could spark a wave of defections in months ahead, positioning the SDP as a significant force in the opposition coalition.
Among those eyeing the SDP is a former minister in the State who served under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Party insiders say that the minister is frustrated with the APC and is exploring platforms that align more closely with his vision. This is as newspaper reports claim that several ministers, and officials who served in Buahri’s administration are also quitting the APC for the SDP.
Also, a gubernatorial aspirant from Owerri zone, known for mobilizing grassroots support across the state to oil his guber ambition, is reportedly in talks with the SDP. The aspirant views the party as a more viable platform to connect with voters seeking change in the State.
“The APC has lost its connection with the electorate in Imo. The SDP now offers a fresh opportunity to restore that link.”said an associate of the guber hopeful.
Adding to the intrigue, a former governor of Imo State is reportedly monitoring political developments, weighing his options. He still eyes the PDP as the major platform to drive his ambition despite having exited the party.
His decision could hinge on the unfolding dynamics within the PDP, particularly the legal tussle involving Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
His allies say that the PDP remains a significant player in Imo’s political scene, despite the internal conflicts rocking it at the national level.
Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s embattled National Secretary, is currently fighting for his position amidst calls for his removal from the PDP Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees, and the Disciplinary Panel, for not resigning his position before he vied for the 2023 Imo governorship race.
Anyanwu’s fate now rests with the Supreme Court, which is set to rule on his status soon.
