The Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC) has urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to focus on Owerri Federal Constituency if he intends to support the emergence of a successor from Owerri Zone ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Imo State.
In a statement signed by its president, Emmanuel Okiwu, the group said it was encouraged by growing claims that Governor Uzodimma had resolved to ensure that power shifts to Owerri Zone after the completion of his tenure. The coalition described the development as a major boost to advocates of the Charter of Equity and other groups that have consistently campaigned for the governorship to rotate to Owerri Zone.
“We are delighted by indications that Governor Uzodimma appreciates the justice behind the demand for Owerri Zone to produce the next governor. This is what OZAC and several pro-Owerri zone groups have canvassed over the years. It is gratifying that the conversation has now shifted from whether Owerri Zone should get the governorship to who within the zone should produce the governor,” Mr Okwu said.
According to the group, having established that Owerri Zone is next in line, equity demands that Owerri Federal Constituency should produce the next governor. OZAC argued that other major blocs within the zone have already had their turn at the governorship.
“The Mbaise bloc produced Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, while the Mbaike bloc produced the late Chief Evan Enwerem. It is therefore only fair and consistent with the spirit of the Charter of Equity that attention should now shift to Owerri Federal Constituency, which has never produced a governor,” the statement added.
The coalition also rejected arguments seeking to present Ngor Okpala as a separate bloc in the zoning arrangement. It maintained that Ngor Okpala has historically been part of the broader Mbaise political structure, pointing to the longstanding Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency as evidence.
“Political blocs are not formed by a single local government area. Historically, Ngor Okpala has always been aligned with the Mbaise bloc. The existing federal constituency structure confirms this reality. Therefore, attempts to isolate Ngor Okpala from Mbaise for the purpose of the governorship debate do not reflect the political history of Owerri Zone,” the group stated.
OZAC further dismissed claims that Owerri Federal Constituency should be excluded because it currently occupies the Senate seat for the zone. The group argued that senatorial representation and governorship succession are entirely different political considerations.
“The argument that Owerri Federal Constituency should step aside because it produced a senator is untenable. Every bloc in Owerri Zone has produced senators since 1999. The Senate has absolutely nothing to do with the governorship question,” Mr Okwu said.
The coalition listed the late Evan Enwerem and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as politicians from the Mbaike bloc who have represented the zone in the Senate. It also cited Senator Chris Anyanwu from the Mbaise/Ngor Okpala axis and Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi from Owerri Federal Constituency. According to OZAC, Onyewuchi’s tenure marks the first time Owerri Federal Constituency has held the Senate seat uninterrupted for eight years.
While insisting that its position was not intended to create division within Owerri Zone, the group said it was merely drawing attention to historical realities and the demands of fairness. “We are not opposed to any son of Owerri Zone pursuing his governorship ambition in any political party. However, as a coalition committed to justice and equity, we have narrowed our support to Owerri Federal Constituency because it remains the most marginalized component in the governorship equation. If the Charter of Equity must be implemented faithfully, then Owerri Federal Constituency deserves serious consideration,” the statement concluded.
FULL TEXT OF RESS STATEMENT
IF UZODIMMA WANTS TO HAND OVER TO OWERRI ZONE, HE SHOULD LOOK TOWARDS OWERRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY
The Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC) has received with considerable excitement and optimism growing claims in the public space that Governor Hope Uzodimma is favourably disposed to ensuring that power shifts to Owerri Zone at the expiration of his tenure in 2027.
For us in OZAC, and indeed for numerous well-meaning groups and stakeholders that have consistently championed the cause of equity, justice and fairness in Imo State, such a development is both uplifting and reassuring. It validates the position we have held for years that the governorship of Imo State should rotate to Owerri Zone in line with the principles underpinning the Charter of Equity, a cause to which OZAC devoted substantial advocacy, mobilization and support.
Having firmly established that it is the turn of Owerri Zone to produce the next governor of Imo State, the conversation must naturally progress to determining which component of the zone should produce Governor Uzodimma’s successor within the All Progressives Congress (APC). On this matter, OZAC’s position is clear and unambiguous: Owerri Federal Constituency remains the most qualified, most justified and most equitable choice.
The facts are straightforward. Within Owerri Zone, the Mbaise bloc has produced a governor in the person of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, while the Mbaitoli-Ikeduru (Mbaike) bloc produced the late Chief Evan Enwerem, who served as Governor of old Imo State. Equity therefore demands that attention be directed towards the only major political bloc within the zone that has never produced a governor—Owerri Federal Constituency.
It is important to clarify certain historical and political realities. Some interests have sought to advance the argument that Ngor Okpala should be treated as a distinct bloc for the purpose of governorship consideration. OZAC respectfully disagrees. Traditionally, political blocs within Owerri Zone have comprised two or more local government areas. Ngor Okpala, as a single local government area, cannot logically constitute a bloc on its own. Historically and politically, Ngor Okpala has always aligned with the Mbaise bloc, a fact reflected in the Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency arrangement which has existed for decades.
It therefore raises legitimate questions when attempts are made to detach Ngor Okpala from the Mbaise political family solely for the purpose of the current governorship conversation. Political history and established electoral structures do not support such a proposition. The reality remains that Mbaise and its political allies have already occupied the governorship position from Owerri Zone.
Equally unconvincing is the argument that Owerri Federal Constituency should step aside because it currently occupies a Senate seat. Such reasoning lacks merit because the Senate and the governorship are entirely different offices, governed by different considerations. Since 1999, every bloc within Owerri Zone has produced senators. The late Chief Evan Enwerem and the late Senator Amah Iwuagwu represented Mbaike at different periods. Senator Samuel Anyanwu emerged from the Mbaise axis, while Senator Chris Anyanwu represented the Mbaise/Ngor Okpala political family. Owerri Federal Constituency currently has Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, whose tenure marks the first time the constituency has enjoyed uninterrupted Senate representation for a full eight years.
Indeed, the Senate cannot and should not be used as a parameter for denying a constituency its legitimate aspiration to produce a governor. If such an argument were valid, none of the other blocs within Owerri Zone would have been eligible to aspire to the governorship, having all produced senators at various times.
OZAC wishes to emphasize that this position is not intended to create division within Owerri Zone. Rather, it is a sincere appeal anchored on historical facts, political justice and the spirit of fairness embodied in the Charter of Equity. We firmly believe that Owerri Federal Constituency possesses the political reach, electoral strength, human capacity and strategic advantage necessary to lead Owerri Zone’s quest to secure the governorship of Imo State in 2027.
While we respect the constitutional rights of all sons and daughters of Owerri Zone in various political parties to pursue their ambitions, OZAC has narrowed its support to Owerri Federal Constituency because it represents the most equitable and morally defensible option. If Governor Hope Uzodimma is truly committed to the principles of justice and fairness that have defined the Charter of Equity conversation, then his search for a successor in Owerri Zone should naturally and logically focus on Owerri Federal Constituency.
Signed:
Emmanuel Okiwu
President, Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC)
