The race for the 2027 governorship of Imo State is taking a sharper turn, with Orlu and Okigwe zones refusing to yield ground despite an intensifying push by Owerri Zone to produce Governor Hope Uzodimma’s successor.
At the heart of the unfolding contest is the Charter of Equity, which provides for rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial zones. Some Owerri zone stakeholders in the APC recently stepped up their campaign for the implementation of the arrangement, arguing that the zone is next in line after years of political exclusion.
The campaign has seen political actors from Owerri reaching out to influential figures in Orlu and Okigwe, seeking support for the zone’s 2027 bid. But while Owerri is building momentum around the zoning argument, the other two zones are already demonstrating that they are not prepared to leave the contest uncontested.
In Orlu Zone, Chief Charles Orie, a former Chairman of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, has openly declared his ambition to govern the state, while a support group backing former Governor Ikedi Ohakim has also indicated interest in bringing the former governor back into the political contest. Their emergence has added fresh weight to Orlu and Okigwe zones presence in the race.
Okigwe Zone, meanwhile, is also positioning itself for the battle, with political calculations and consultations gathering momentum ahead of 2027. The developments underscore the reality that the Charter of Equity, while politically significant, does not automatically eliminate competition from other zones.
The situation is particularly intriguing within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. While Owerri stakeholders continue to demand the governorship on the basis of zoning or Charter of Equity, no aspirant from the zone has yet openly declared a governorship bid on the APC platform, even as contenders from other zones begin to make their intentions known.
Outside the APC, Owerri already has heavyweight political figures associated with the 2027 race, including former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, while Ochoudo Martin Agbaso is also expected to contest on the platform of the NDC. Their presence means Owerri is not short of potential contenders, even if the APC picture remains unsettled.
With the political chessboard rapidly taking shape, the big question is no longer simply whether Owerri Zone has a strong claim under the Charter of Equity, but whether it can translate that claim into the support required to win the APC ticket. Ultimately, Governor Uzodimma’s preferred successor, the strength of the competing aspirants and the ability of each zone to build a winning coalition could determine who occupies Government House, Owerri, in 2027.
