As the 2027 Imo governorship elections draw nearer, several top Imo politicians are eagerly anticipating the formation of a new mega party that could provide a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speculation surrounding the potential emergence of the new political platform has gained momentum, especially following a key meeting between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra Governor Peter Obi in Yola, Adamawa State at the weekend.
According to sources close to several governorship hopefuls in Imo State, the proposed mega party would offer a fresh political alternative to the APC, which has been entrenched in the state under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
“We are optimistic that the new party will provide a level playing field for all credible candidates, giving us a better shot at the governorship seat in 2027,” a source close to one of the aspirants told INNONEWS.
The source also explained the challenge of securing the APC governorship ticket, as many believe that Uzodimma will ensure his preferred successor emerges from within the ruling party.
Political analysts also point to the strength of the PDP in Imo, where Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s National Secretary, is seen as a dominant figure. The control that Anyanwu exerts over the state’s PDP machinery in the State makes it highly unlikely that anyone else will secure the party’s governorship ticket in 2027.
Former Governor of the State, Emeka Ihedioha, had dumped the party over irreconcilable differences with Senator Anyawnu, who eventually picked the party’s governorship ticket for the 2023 governorship election.
Ihedioha has remained party-less since then. His move to Labour Party, LP, may have been halted with the rising possibility of a mega party coming on board soon.
Aside Ihedioha, other Imo politicians, especially those nursing governorship ambitions, are equally looking for alternative options to further their ambitions.
The speculation about the mega party has stirred optimism among key political players in the state, some of whom recently met at a wedding of the daughter of a prominent politician from Okigwe zone.
The gathering, which included notable figures from both the PDP and Labour Party, was seen as a significant step towards uniting various factions and forming a new platform that could potentially displace both the APC and the PDP.
“If the PDP and Labour Party come together at the national level, alongside other like-minded parties, we will offer a credible alternative to the APC, which has inflicted pain and misery on Nigerians,”
“With growing discontent over the current leadership and lack of direction by the APC led Federal government, the proposed mega party will be seen by many as a beacon of hope for change” one of the attendees at the wedding told this newspaper on condition of anonymity.
As political maneuvering continues ahead of 2027, all eyes will be on how these factions and political players align and whether the new party can offer a viable challenge to the long-standing dominance of the APC in Imo State.
