The political landscape of Imo State took center stage during a high-profile luncheon held in Lagos over the weekend.
The event, organized by billionaire IT mogul and Zinox Group chairman, Chief Leo Stan Eke, was in honor of Governor Hope Uzodimma, CON, who was recently recognized by Vanguard newspaper as the Infrastructure Governor of the Year.
While initially intended to celebrate Governor Uzodimma’s achievements, the luncheon quickly became a platform for intense debate on the Imo Charter of Equity and the 2027 governorship election.
Chief Leo Stan Eke, from Owerri Zone seized the opportunity to advocate for his zone’s claim to the governorship. He argued passionately that since 1999, Owerri Zone has been unfairly denied the state’s top position despite its substantial contributions to Imo’s development.
Eke’s assertions, however, met with a swift and firm rebuttal from another billionaire, Chief Tony Chukwu from Okigwe Zone.
According to sources present at the event, Chukwu countered by insisting that it was Okigwe Zone’s turn to produce the next governor after Uzodimma.
Chief Chukwu pointed out that Okigwe has been marginalized under the current rotational framework, lagging behind Owerri and Orlu Zones in infrastructure, education, and social amenities. He urged attendees to reflect during the Holy Week on the fairness of marginalizing Okigwe Zone and emphasized the need for equity and justice.
Drawing from his Christian faith, Chukwu argued that Okigwe’s development is crucial for the overall progress of the state.
He proposed that Owerri Zone could only claim the governorship if it ceded the hosting of the capital city to Okigwe.
Chukwu further asserted that the rotation of the governorship and the state capital’s location should be considered together to ensure balanced development across the zones.
Prominent figures at the event included traditional rulers such as Eze Ilomuanya, Chairman of the Imo Council of Elders, and Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanwe, Chairman of the Okigwe Elders Global Forum.
Also present were business leaders like Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, Founder of the Imo Harmony Project, which advocates for an Owerri Zone governor, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, among others, who also contributed to the spirited discussions.
Chief Eke, alongside his wife, Mrs. Chioma Eke, hosted the luncheon with grandeur, offering lavish entertainment to the governor and his entourage.
However, the celebratory atmosphere was overshadowed by the heated political arguments.
Analysts believe the event underscored the deep divisions between proponents of Owerri and Okigwe Zones as they vie for the 2027 governorship elections.
Ernest Akobundu, a political analyst from Imo State who spoke to INNONEWS in Lagos, remarked that the Imo Charter of Equity, designed to ensure equitable power-sharing among the state’s three zones, has increasingly become a battleground for political elites.
He said “The heated and intense debates at the luncheon highlight the challenges in achieving consensus on this contentious issue,”
“In fact, the intense debate has set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested race, with the Imo Charter of Equity at its core,” he concluded.