Two political heavyweights from Imo’s Orlu zone are set to join the governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reliable sources have told INNONEWS.
The two aspirants, described by insiders as long-standing and trusted allies of Governor Hope Uzodimma, are said to be concluding internal consultations ahead of a formal declaration.
One of them is currently serving in the National Assembly, while the other is a former minister of state under the Muhammadu Buhari administration and a prominent figure within the APC power structure in the state.
Sources said the former minister recently gained further political traction after Governor Uzodimma appointed him to coordinate moves for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in Imo, a role party insiders describe as “a clear signal of trust and proximity to power”.
According to party sources, both men have intensified behind-the-scenes engagements and political outreach ahead of the expected launch of their governorship ambitions.
“They are not making noise yet, but the consultations are serious,” a source close to one of the camps said. “The plan is to formally declare when the signal is right”
Another source familiar with discussions in Orlu APC circles said loyalists around the aspirants are pushing back against claims that the party’s Charter of Equity forecloses Orlu zone from the 2027 contest.
“There is nowhere in the charter where Orlu is excluded from contesting,” the source said. “The document talks about fairness, not political banishment. Anyone saying Orlu zone cannot run is pushing a political interpretation, not the actual text.”
The emerging moves add to an already growing list of Orlu-based APC politicians positioning for the governorship race, despite sustained agitation from Owerri zone for power shift in line with the equity arrangement in 2027.
Last year, Charles Orie, a known ally of Governor Uzodimma from Orlu zone, publicly declared his intention to run for governor, marking the first open signal of Orlu’s interest in the contest.
Before his declaration, Orie served as head of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), widely regarded as one of the most influential parastatals in the state.
Since announcing his ambition, Orie has continued consultations across the state, projecting his governorship bid and consolidating support within APC structures, party sources said.
In contrast, there are currently no publicly declared APC governorship aspirants from Owerri zone, despite repeated visits by political leaders from the zone to Governor Uzodimma demanding the party’s ticket in 2027.
The Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition, (OZAC) one of the vocal groups championing an Owerri zone governor of Imo extraction has also warned that the absence of declared contenders from the zone could weaken its negotiating position ahead of the primaries, as Orlu politicians quietly but steadily build momentum within the APC.
