Unease has engulfed the political class in Owerri Zone following remarks allegedly made by Governor Hope Uzodimma, dismissing zoning and the Imo Charter of Equity in the selection of his successor.
According to an Owerri-based tabloid, Big Truth, linked to one of the Governor’s aides, Uzodimma reportedly made the comments during a church service on Sunday.
The Governor was quoted as saying, “What matters to me is not where the next governor comes from but who can sustain and expand the progress we have made. Anyone focused on zoning or the Charter of Equity is not aligned with my vision.”
The absence of an official denial from the Governor or his aides has fueled speculation that the statement reflects Uzodimma’s stance.
This newspaper has observed that, before this statement, most of those in Uzodimma’s camp or within the APC who harbor governorship ambitions have kept their intentions shrouded in secrecy.
In fact, the Governor’s early warning that he does not want to be distracted may have silenced these aspirants and forced them into political restraint.
However, Uzodimma’s latest statement has left many political stakeholders in Owerri Zone in shock, with some interpreting it as a deliberate departure from his previous commitments to zoning.
Some political groups advocating for Owerri Zone’s right to produce the next governor, such as the Imo Harmony Project (IHP), Owerri Zone Political Leaders Forum (OZOPOLF), and Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC), have yet to issue official reactions.
When contacted by our reporter, Mr. Emmanuel Okwu, President of OZAC, who spoke from his London base, said, “I am still reviewing the alleged comments attributed to the Governor. It’s premature to respond without fully understanding the context.”
Similarly, Ernest Uche, spokesman for Owerri Zone Mandate (OZM), refrained from making an immediate comment when our reporter contacted him.
However, Mr. Uche Egwuatu, an Owerri-based political analyst, said the comments, if true, add a new dimension or complexity to the succession race in 2028.
He said, “The signs have always been there. Governor Uzodimma previously stated that governorship is not turn by turn. He was reported to have told Owerri Zone stakeholders this when they visited him at Government House in March 2025.”
Mr. Egwuatu pointed to earlier statements by Declan Emelumba, Commissioner for Information, who declared the Imo Charter of Equity was “not a legal framework.”
He also referenced the earlier positions of Orlu Political Consultative Assembly (OPOCA), led by Rex Anunobi, a serving commissioner in Uzodimma’s cabinet, who has consistently downplayed the Charter of Equity as a determinant for the governorship.
“I think the handwriting was on the wall for Owerri Zone leaders to see. When Okigwe Global Elders Forum called for a review of the Charter of Equity, that was when I smelled a rat.”
“While it’s the right of Owerri Zone to advocate for the position, I think they relied too heavily on emotional appeals rather than strategic political engagement,”
“This is a wake-up call for Owerri Zone leaders. If they continue to ignore the Governor’s body language and fail to engage in proactive dialogue, they risk being sidelined entirely and possibly losing the governorship seat. They should not be deterred, but they should drop the entitlement mentality. Power is not about entitlement,” he concluded.
Mr Sam Ozurumba Ejiogu, however argued that the Governor;s statement was twisted out of context.
“Those who wish to truncate the charter of equity have twisted the meaning of the statement made by the Governor. Those of us who have no selfish interest understood what he meant. He said and meant that no matter where the person comes from, he must be someone who is able to sustain his achievements…….” he wrote on a Whatsaap platform
As disquiet grows within the zone, many are waiting to see if the Governor or his aides will clarify or refute the statements attributed to him.
Meanwhile, the uncertainty has left political actors grappling with the potential fallout and recalibrating their strategies for 2027.
