Electioneering for political succession of the present civilian government of Imo State on January 14, 2028 is on course. Lots of hush-hush political calculations, renewed strategic consultations, meetings, healthy discussions, alignments and realignments are going on clandestinely across the length and breath of the state. Many illustrious citizens of Imo from the three senatorial zones namely Owerri (Imo East), Okigwe ( Imo North) and Orlu (Imo West) have indicated interest to take power over from Governor Hope Uzodimma in 2027 using different political parties. More aspirants are expected to join the governorship race as soon as embargo on political activities is lifted by INEC. All politicians and intending politicians are being guided by INEC timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
From all indications, the 2027 Imo Governorship off-cycle election promises to be competitive, definitive , intriguing, tough and full of expectations of the unexpected. The envisaged number of governorship aspirants of different pedigrees, unquestionable integrity, honour and valor jostling to succeed Governor Uzodimma makes it a herculean task for any political pundit , analyst or commentator to predict with prophetic accuracy the direction the pendulum will swing to at the end of the upcoming party primaries. Consequently , many people are making conjectures about which senatorial zone is most likely to produce the next Imo Governor after the incumbent Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma who happens to come from Orlu senatorial district with twelve local Government Areas completes his second term in January 2028. The People’s anxiety has been aggravated and exacerbated by the Governor’s unwillingness and resistance to temptation to directly or indirectly disclose his preferred aspirant or successor. For now, the Governor has not anointed or endorsed any aspirant from any of the zones. However, by the time Governor Uzodimma completes his constitutionally guaranteed second term on January 14, 2028, Orlu senatorial district would have done twenty four years on the governorship seat of Imo State. A breakdown of the twenty four years is as shown:- Chief Achike Udenwa (May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007), Owelle Rochas Okorocha ( May 29, 2011 to May 29, 2019) and the incumbent Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma ( January 14, 2020 to January 14, 2028). Okigwe senatorial district with six Local Government Areas had done eight years through Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe of blessed memory ( October 1979 to December 31, 1983) and Chief Ikedi Ohakim ( May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2011) while Owerri senatorial district with nine Local Government Areas had served only seventeen months through late Chief Evan Enwerem ( 1992-1993) and Right Honourable Emeka Ihedioha (May 29, 2019 to January 14, 2020 ).The above records are incontrovertible, unarguable and verifiable. Meanwhile, there are rumours making the rounds in some quarters that some prominent members of the ruling government and other political parties from Orlu senatorial district have indicated interest to join the governorship race in defiance and utter disregard for Imo Charter Of Equity and despite the recent emergence of a prominent son of the zone as State Chairman of the ruling political party. Unarguably and constitutionally too, all the aspirants from Orlu zone under different political parties are free to contest the primary election as well as the off-season governorship election slated for November 2027. This is because the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, did not make provision for zoning the office of the State Governor to senatorial districts. Nonetheless, the outcome of Imo off-cycle governorship election will determine the position of the State Chairman of the ruling party. People should not interprete the emergence of the new APC State Chairman from Orlu Senatorial district as a strategy to deprive the zone from participating in the party primaries and the forthcoming governorship election. If in the end the APC primary election produces a flag bearer from Orlu who eventually emerges victorious at the governorship election, the State Chairman position of the party can be ceded to another zone.
Since 1999, Imo had been confronted with the perennial problem of rotational governorship among the three senatorial districts. Many political leaders from the three senatorial districts had given the Imo Charter Of Equity different political interpretations before, during and after every election year. In my own thinking, Imo Charter Of Equity is not binding on the three senatorial districts of the state. This is evident in the recent explanation and clarification by Imo State Government that the Imo Charter Of Equity is neither a law nor a legislative document. It is, therefore, clearly understood to be a springboard that aspirants from the three senatorial districts are free to contest the primary elections of political parties and the governorship election. In the same vein, the incumbent Governor who is the Chairman of the ruling party’s Governors’ Forum is equally free to support any aspirant from any zone he wishes to succeed him.
Honestly, most of the political problems militating against Nigeria’s political advancement are traceable to lack of successional arrangements, poor successional strategies and flagrant abuse of power of incumbency by some of the past political leaders. For instance, late General Muhammadu Buhari planned and executed a military putsch against the civilian administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari which made him not to serve out his tenure and hand power over to the Vice President, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not hand power over to his Vice, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar after successfully completing his second term. He rather preferred the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his successor. Former Vice President and President, Dr.Good luck Jonathan who became President through the instrumentality of the doctrine of necessity was not allowed to serve a second term and hand power over to Vice President Namadi Sambo. Equally worrisome is the fact that late President Buhari did not hand power over to Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo. If President Obasanjo had handed power over to his Vice, Atiku Abubakar, he ( Atiku Abubarkar) wouldn’t be struggling tirelessly and unrelentingly from 2007 to date to become the President of Nigeria after series of defections to and from different political parties.
Here in Imo State, former Governor Achike Udenwa did not hand power over to Deputy Governor, late Engr. Ebere Udeagu who hailed from Okigwe zone after completing his second term in office. Former Governor Ikedi Ohakim could not secure re-election for a second term in office. He dropped his first Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Ada Okwuonu and picked Professor Viola Onwuliri for his second term. Unfortunately, they couldn’t make it to Douglas House. Again, former Governor Rochas Okorocha did not hand power over to Deputy Governor, Prince Ezeakonobi Madumere from Owerri zone despite Court’s nullification of his impeachment by Imo State House of Assembly. He rather appointed the Head Of Service, Chief Calistus Ekenze as Deputy Governor of Imo State. Regrettably, the State Chief Judge then refused to swear-in Ekenze as Imo Deputy Governor following a Court Order. Recall that Okorocha’s first Deputy, Chief Jude Agbaso was impeached by Imo State House of Assembly but a Federal High Court in Owerri absolved him of all the allegations levelled against him by his traducers.The incumbent Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma replaced his first running mate and Deputy Governor, Professor Placid Njoku with Lady Chinyere Ekomaru in his second term.
The perennial problems of governorship succession in Imo State have been attributed to a number of factors. They include frosty relationship between the Governors and their Deputies, alleged marginalization of office of the Deputy Governor, distrust, disloyalty, diversion and mismanagement of public funds, corrupt practices, violation of human rights and the rule of law, abuse of office, fear of exposure, fear of arrest and prosecution by anti-graft agencies after leaving office among others.
In law, equity is equality and vice versa. If the clamour for power shift or Imo Charter Of Equity is anything to go by, this is the right time to awaken the consciences and veracity of the makers of Imo Charter Of Equity to make public, with cogent and incontrovertible reasons, the rightful zone to produce Governor Uzodimma’s successor. Imo elders are expected to come up conscientiously with the bitter truth on the subject matter without minding whose ox is gored.The Bible, in John chapter eight verse thirty two says that the truth shall set you free. Similarly, the legendary Islamic scholar, Sheikh Othman Dan Fodio said that conscience is an open wound only the truth can heal. The Imo Charter Of Equity which is neither a law nor a legislative document should either be strengthened through legislation to ensure equity, justice and fairness in the governance of Imo State or scrapped immediately so that aspirants from the three senatorial districts can openly declare their intentions without reservations. Of course, no one has the power to stop the aspirants from vying for the office of the Governor of Imo State. It is their constitutional and political right. After all, in a direct democracy, power is not given but rather taken through the ballot boxes. What needs to be done now and urgently too is to drastically reduce the number of aspirants from each zone through free, fair and credible primary elections. Any of the aspirants who emerges victorious at party primaries will have Ndi Imo and residents to contain with at the governorship polls.
Ndi Imo must decide who governs them after considering a number of factors and the qualities of aspirants from each of the senatorial zones. No one should ever dream of imposing any aspirant on the good people of Imo State.
Finally, by the special grace of God, Imo governorship off-cycle election must be freely and fairly contested and only one person from the three senatorial zones will occupy the Douglas House as from January 14, 2028.
