Ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Imo State, there are strong indications that tension is brewing between members of Rebuild Imo, the political structure of former governor Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, and the The Mazi Organisation (TMO), led by Dr. Mathew Chima Amadi, over who controls the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.
Rebuild Imo had, a few months ago, launched the ADC across local governments in Imo, an action widely interpreted as a signal of a strong opposition front preparing for the 2027 polls.
But some TMO officials, though yet to formally unveil its own party platform, insists it has deep ties with the ADC at the national level — a posture that fuels its claim to ownership of the party in Imo.
The rivalry recently boiled over at a gathering in Owerri, where members of both groups almost clashed physically over control of the party structure.
An Owerri based tabloid had reported that on September 5, 2025, the two camps again came close to confrontation at the residence of former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nnaemeka Maduagwu.
The event, which hosted ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Anambra governor Peter Obi, nearly turned chaotic before the organisers intervened to calm the situation.
Ihedioha, since his removal from office by the Supreme Court in 2020, had stayed away from partisan politics, choosing instead to consolidate his political base through the Rebuild Imo structure. His followers only recently launched the ADC across the local councils, further intensifying the contest for supremacy.
Meanwhile, the TMO, though relatively new in the state’s political scene, has quickly gained popularity. Its leader, Dr. Amadi, is widely known for his humanitarian gestures, including paying millions in hospital bills and providing donations to traders and vulnerable groups.
Observers note that Amadi’s social interventions have earned him grassroots support, with many seeing him as one of the most visible governorship hopefuls ahead of 2027.
Amid this tussle, Emmanuel Amushie, who has consistently laid claim to the chairmanship of ADC in Imo, is alleged to be an ally of Amadi, though TMO has yet to openly endorse his position. Amushie insists he is the authentic chairman — a claim strongly disputed by Bon Unachukwu, the newly elected South East zonal chairman.
Sources further hint that after failed underground moves to hijack the APC structure in Imo, Amadi may officially pitch his tent with the ADC, a move that could complicate the already tense rivalry with Ihedioha’s camp.
For now, both Rebuild Imo and TMO remain locked in a fierce battle for control of ADC, a struggle analysts say will shape the opposition’s strength and direction ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
