For over two decades, Orlu Zone has enjoyed an unbroken dominance in Imo politics, arrogantly carrying the tag of kingmaker and appropriating the governorship seat as its birthright.
Out of 48 years of Imo’s existence, Orlu has selfishly pocketed more than 24 years at the helm. Meanwhile, Owerri and Okigwe zones have collectively tasted power for barely five years. That lopsidedness is the very definition of political imbalance.
The question is blunt: Is Orlu truly the kingmaker of Imo politics, or has it only thrived because Owerri and Okigwe chose to play the role of willing accomplices? The evidence points to the latter. For too long, Owerri and Okigwe have been instruments for Orlu’s ascendancy, prostrating at critical moments instead of holding their ground.
Take 1999, for instance. Owerri Zone had Humphrey Anumudu of blessed memory poised to claim the governorship. Yet, in a strange twist, Owerri conceded, paving the way for the then little-known Achike Udenwa from Orlu. That was the first act of betrayal—an early seed of Orlu’s political dominance, watered not by superior strength but by Owerri’s capitulation.
The script repeated itself in 2011. Owerri once again stood accused—though wrongly—of aiding the ascension of Rochas Okorocha, an Orlu son, to the governorship.
At the time, Okigwe’s Ikedi Ohakim was entitled to a second term, but the political winds, fanned by alliances and betrayals, handed the keys of Douglas House back to Orlu. History will record that Owerri’s political naivety at that time provided fertile ground for Orlu’s entrenchment.
Between Owerri and Okigwe, it is clear that Orlu owes Owerri a massive political debt. Without Owerri’s repeated concessions and miscalculations, Orlu would never have enjoyed such an uninterrupted grip on power.
As 2027 approaches, it is high time Orlu dropped the pretense of being Imo’s kingmaker and faced reality: Owerri Zone has earned the governorship seat.
Yes, Orlu boasts more local governments, but political strength is not measured in geography alone. The voting power of Imo State is concentrated in Owerri Zone, whose electorate consistently shapes election outcomes. If democracy is indeed a game of numbers, then Owerri holds the ace. For Orlu to continue its stranglehold is not only unjust but also a slap in the face of equity.
Worse still, there are whispers that some forces in Orlu, though in the minority, are plotting to undermine the Imo Charter of Equity—a document that has rightly endorsed zoning as a pathway to fairness.
Reports suggest that they want Governor Hope Uzodimma to throw open the 2027 governorship to all three zones, a move designed to perpetuate Orlu’s dominance. Such scheming reveals a mindset drunk on power and allergic to justice.
It is, however, encouraging that many traditional institutions in Orlu have endorsed the Charter of Equity. They understand that peace and fairness cannot thrive in a climate where one zone perpetually lords over the others. Still, the challenge remains to rein in those power mongers determined to drag Imo backward.
It is important to note that Owerri Zone is not asking for charity. It is demanding justice. Orlu cannot continue to claim the title of kingmaker when its throne was built on the backs of Owerri’s compromises. The idea that Orlu holds the magic wand for Imo governorship is nothing but a political myth—a myth that has fed fat for too long on Owerri’s generosity.
The time has come to dismantle that myth. 2027 must not be business as usual. If Orlu truly desires to be remembered as a partner in the progress of Imo, it must step back, acknowledge its debt to Owerri, and allow equity to prevail.
Imo cannot afford another cycle of arrogance and imbalance. The Charter of Equity is not just a piece of paper; it is a moral compass. And for once, Orlu must follow it. Anything less would amount to political robbery.
The verdict is clear: Orlu must dump the tag of kingmaker in 2027. The seat belongs to Owerri Zone—not as a favor, not as a concession, but as a right long overdue.
Okorie writes from Owerri
The time has come to dismantle that myth. 2027 must not be business as usual. If Orlu truly desires to be remembered as a partner in the progress of Imo, it must step back, acknowledge its debt to Owerri, and allow equity to prevail.
