As the 2027 governorship race in Imo State draws closer, political calculations are intensifying across the state’s three senatorial zones.
Of particular concern is the increasing reliance of leaders and stakeholders in Owerri Zone on the Imo Charter of Equity — a political document midwifed by the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While the Charter is noble in intent, Owerri Zone appears to be placing too much faith in it, at the risk of limiting its political leverage and strategic options.
The Imo Charter of Equity is designed to provide a fair rotational arrangement for the governorship among the three zones — Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri.
Owerri Zone, which last held the governorship through Emeka Ihedioha’s short-lived tenure in 2019, sees the charter as its political lifeline in 2027.
However, the emotional attachment to this charter has become too pronounced, blinding many from the realities of power politics in Imo State.
Governor Uzodimma’s recent statement that his interest lies in a successor who can sustain his achievements — regardless of the zone the person comes from — should be a wake-up call for Owerri Zone.
This comment is weighty and clearly signals that the APC ticket may not automatically fall into the lap of any aspirant simply because of the Charter. The APC primary, and by extension, the general election, is set to be a competitive battlefield, not a coronation ceremony for any zone.
While it is true that the power of incumbency carries immense weight in Nigerian politics, there is no guarantee that Governor Uzodimma’s preferred candidate will ultimately win the 2027 governorship election.
Political history in Imo State shows that outgoing governors often fail to install successors. Neither Achike Udenwa nor Rochas Okorocha succeeded in doing so. Those who believe Uzodimma will break this jinx may be overly optimistic.
Owerri Zone leaders must begin to expand their political horizon and remove the blindfold of sole dependence on Governor Uzodimma, the APC, and the Charter of Equity.
Political power is not handed on a platter — it is won through strategic planning, coalition building, and bold maneuvering. Owerri must not assume that support from the APC alone, or the goodwill of the current administration, will suffice to clinch the governorship.
The Charter of Equity, as it stands today, is already entangled in a web of political ambiguity. Questions about its enforceability, legal standing, and cross-party acceptance abound. Was it adopted by all political parties in the state? Or is it simply an internal APC policy now elevated to state-wide discourse? Until such questions are convincingly answered, the Charter cannot be viewed as a binding political covenant.
Furthermore, the evolving political terrain in Imo State suggests a much more turbulent contest ahead. With the emergence of a growing coalition of opposition forces aligning under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the playing field is rapidly shifting.
The 2027 election will not be a simple APC-versus-PDP scenario. The fragmentation of political support bases and emergence of third-force alternatives means Owerri Zone must diversify its political strategy.
History also reminds us that incumbency does not guarantee electoral victory. Emeka Ihedioha, an Owerri Zone indigene, rode a massive wave of support in 2019 to unseat Okorocha’s anointed successor, Uche Nwosu defeating the power of incumbency through strategic alliances and a broad-based movement. That same spirit of political enterprise must be rekindled if Owerri is to reclaim the governorship.
It is also worth interrogating the true scope of the Charter of Equity. Is it a binding consensus among all stakeholders in Imo politics or simply an APC-internal arrangement dressed in the garb of fairness? If the latter is the case, then Owerri Zone would be doing itself a disservice by viewing it as a universal instrument of power rotation. Such an approach is both limiting and self-defeating.
More critically, Owerri Zone must guard against psychological surrender. Governor Uzodimma’s recent remarks should not demoralize the zone or create a false impression that the road to Government House is closed outside the APC structure.
On the contrary, Owerri must begin to explore viable options across all major parties, and even in alternative movements, to build a formidable coalition that can deliver power.
The real danger lies in political complacency — assuming that loyalty to the governor or adherence to a single party will automatically translate into electoral success. Owerri Zone must avoid this pitfall by investing in political education, grassroots mobilization, and leadership consensus that transcends party lines.
The people of Owerri Zone must recognize that political power is not bestowed; it is negotiated, earned, and taken. To put all its eggs in one fragile political basket — be it the Charter, the APC, or a single candidate — is to gamble away a rare opportunity. The time to act is now. Strategy must replace sentiment, and vision must guide ambition. Only then can Owerri Zone take its rightful place in Imo State’s political destiny.
“The Charter of Equity, as it stands today, is already entangled in a web of political ambiguity. Questions about its enforceability, legal standing, and cross-party acceptance abound. Was it adopted by all political parties in the state? Or is it simply an internal APC policy now elevated to state-wide discourse? Until such questions are convincingly answered, the Charter cannot be viewed as a binding political covenant“
