- Backs Tinubu, Amadi For President, Senate
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, High Chief Sir Bona Nlemadim, has announced his decision to take a sabbatical leave from the party, citing what he described as the continued political marginalization of Ngor Okpala in the affairs of the state.
In a letter addressed to APC members in the local government and titled “My Position On Current Political Issues In Ngor Okpala,” Nlemadim expressed disappointment over recent political developments, particularly the outcome of the Owerri Zone senatorial contest. He also declared his support for Dr. Matthew Amadi, the senatorial candidate of the APP, while maintaining his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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25TH JUNE, 2026
CHIEF SIR BONA NLEMADIM WRITES MEMBERS APC NGOR OKPALA
“MY POSITION ON CURRENT POLICTICAL ISSUES IN NGOR OKPALA”
My dear Party Members,
It is with humility and every sense of responsibility that I address you today. I thank God for keeping all of us and for what we have achieved as a political family over the years.
As you may be aware, I have been an active member of our great party since 2014, having transited with His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha from APGA. I have since remained a faithful party member and supported the party and its candidates in various election cycles. Like you all, I stand on the mandate of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Not only will I vote for him in the forthcoming election, but I will also encourage my followers to do the same.
However, my heart bleeds at the continued marginalization our local government in the politics of Imo State. The case of Dr. Chijioke Kaduru is both recent and worth mentioning here. When he came strongly into the arena and expressed interest to represent Owerri Zone in the senate in the coming political dispensation, I was excited. I believed that God has sent us a candidate without blemish–a young man with integrity, sound education and sufficient resources to pursue his ambition.
For over two years, he transversed the component LGAs that make up Owerri Zone using his Nkwachikwere Foundation as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). He touched the lives of many in the zone, more so in our own local government, and left no one in doubt about his capacity, his vision as well as his political direction. Most of us on this platform participated in his programs and supported his ambition. I salute those patriotic sons and daughters of Ngor Okpala.
Unfortunately, our hopes were dashed. At the end of the consensus primaries, Ngor Okpala was denied the ticket; which was instead, returned to Owerri North, where Senator Ezenwa Onyenwuchi has held sway for the past seven years. The Imo Charter of Equity enunciated by our amiable Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, was jettisoned. Like the late music legend Sir Warrior sang, “Oke ru anyi aka ekearia ya”.
I was disillusioned by the outcome, which was unfair and devoid of equity. To rub it in, Ngor Okpala was also denied the House of Representatives ticket for our constituency. As much as I would like to remain a loyal party member, I must state unequivocally that these developments are painful and unjust, as they suggest that no one cares about us. Yet we are pressured to sing hallelujah while enduring severe pains.
Over 14 years of APC rule in Imo state and our full participation in party activities, I still cannot drive from Orie Nguru to Umuewere, a distance of one kilometer. It is that bad! The gains of democracy have completely eluded us despite our loyalty and commitment to party ideals.
The low hanging fruit being peddled around now is that the governorship ticket will be ceded to Ngor Okpala. Really? As much as I would wish this becomes a reality, I must restrain myself from such an illusion. If it happens, though, we will forever be grateful to our Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and will support any of our own that gets the ticket. For now, we have become the proverbial “Achara di woro miri” and must seek our own water fountain. No outsider will do it for us. Without mincing words, let an Ngor Okpala man fix Ngor Okpala!
I love our party, and have enjoyed beautiful relationships with most of our leaders and members. However, patriotism and love for my people and their welfare far exceed my love and loyalty for the party. To be at peace with myself, I have decided to give my unalloyed support to any son or daughter of Ngor Okpala who secures a ticket for an elective position irrespective of party affiliation. May I congratulate our brother, Dr Matthew Amadi (Mazi Gburugburu-TMO), who has secured the ticket to run for Senate for Owerri Zone, under the APP. I stand to be corrected, but he is the first Ngor Okpala man to secure a senatorial ticket on the platform of any political party.
In addition to possessing great intellect and sound education, Dr. Amadi is respectful, gentle but rugged and focused. He is a man of integrity, whose reach and goodwill cut across various party divides. More importantly, God has given him enough resources to prosecute this project. All he needs from the good people of Ngor Okpala is support and commitment.
If we queue behind him, we shall produce the next Senator for Owerri Zone–a position that has eluded us since 1999. Therefore, I have decided to give Dr. Amadi my total support, and I appeal to every Ngor Okpala indigene or resident to rally around him and think beyond party loyalty. If he succeeds, I am convinced he will do his best to turn around our fortunes.
Meanwhile, even if you disagree with my position, please do not take it personally. It should not break the bond of brotherhood and friendship we share. As our people often say, “Agucha na Nna, aguo na Nne.” It is just a matter of difference in political ideology and personal conviction.
Arising from the above, I would like to take a sabbatical leave from the party to enable me to devote my time and commitment to the Mazi Senatorial Project. I hope that in the end, this will give me the peace of mind and satisfaction that comes with supporting one of our own.
I will excuse myself from this platform within the next 24 hours to avoid being accused of engaging in anti-party activities. Despite this, we remain friends. Politics will come and go. Political parties will come and go. But we will remain sons and daughters of Ngor Okpala until the very end.
Thank you all for the patience, understanding and continued friendship.
Yours sincerely,
High Chief Sir Bona Nlemadim
AKUPE NGOR OKPALA
