■ Says it will unveil five Owerri sons fit to lead Imo by 2026
■ Describes Orlu zone as biggest obstacle to power shift in 2027
One of the leading groups in Owerri zone agitating for power shift to the zone in 2027, the Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC), says while it is certain about those who will not succeed Governor Hope Uzodimma, it cannot predict those the governor may anoint as his successor.
In a statement signed by its President, Emmanuel Okwu, and made available to this newspaper in Owerri on Thursday, OZAC disclosed that credible intelligence indicates that some categories of politicians stand no chance of succeeding Uzodimma.
The group said it will, by next year, unveil five prominent sons of Owerri zone it considers fit and capable of succeeding the Imo State governor.
According to Okwu, the selection will reflect individuals with integrity, capacity, and political acceptance across the state.
He recalled that OZAC had in the past outlined qualities expected of anyone seeking to govern Imo State from the Owerri zone, stressing that its forthcoming list will mirror those standards.
Okwu explained that the group has been engaged in extensive consultations across the three senatorial zones of the state, aimed at building consensus for the rotation of the governorship to Owerri zone in 2027.
He added that the ongoing interface with stakeholders in Orlu and Okigwe zones was part of OZAC’s deliberate effort to ensure that the call for power shift is rooted in equity, justice, and fairness.
According to him, OZAC’s latest intelligence reports indicate that Orlu zone remains keenly interested in retaining the governorship seat beyond 2027.
He noted that the group has intensified its persuasive engagement with Orlu political leaders to convince them to support Owerri zone’s quest for the governorship.
Okwu stated that both Orlu and Okigwe zones pose challenges to the realization of an Imo governor of Owerri extraction but described Orlu as the biggest obstacle given its entrenched political dominance.
He reaffirmed OZAC’s commitment to advancing the cause of justice and inclusion in Imo politics, insisting that power rotation among the three zones remains the most sustainable path to peace and political stability in the state.
