The Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC) has cautioned governorship aspirants from Orlu Zone against ignoring the Imo Charter of Equity in their quest to succeed Governor Hope Uzodimma in 2027.
OZAC, in a press statement signed by its President, Emmanuel Okwu, said the governorship contest should be guided by the principle of power rotation among the three senatorial zones of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri.
Okwu said it was politically insensitive for aspirants from Orlu Zone, which he described as having enjoyed a significant share of political power in the state, to seek to disregard the Charter at a time when other zones were making legitimate claims to the governorship.
He said Owerri Zone had a strong case for consideration, having remained disadvantaged in the rotation of political power since the return to democratic rule, while Okigwe Zone also had a legitimate claim within the framework of the Charter.
According to him, the Charter of Equity may not be a constitutional document, but it has become an important political understanding that has shaped the state’s political development and cannot be discarded whenever it becomes inconvenient.
The OZAC president acknowledged the constitutional right of every qualified citizen to contest elective office, but said political ambition must also take into account the prevailing mood of the people and the political realities of the state.
He urged Orlu Zone aspirants to consider the broader interest of Imo State and avoid actions that could undermine the principle of power rotation, warning that political rights do not necessarily translate into electoral advantage.
Okwu said the 2027 election would be influenced not only by the strength of political structures and individual ambitions but also by the people’s perception of fairness, equity and justice in the distribution of political power.
He therefore called on political leaders and stakeholders to respect the Charter of Equity and allow the 2027 governorship contest to reflect the principle of fairness and rotation, saying any attempt to undermine the arrangement could have serious political consequences.
