The Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC) has commended the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what it described as the party’s positive disposition towards producing the state’s next governor from Owerri Zone in 2027.
The group’s position follows recent remarks by the Imo APC chairman, who said the party was committed to ensuring that Owerri Zone produces Governor Hope Uzodimma’s successor. He, however, maintained that the aspiration would only become a reality if the zone rallied behind the APC and delivered victory for the ruling party in the January 2027 general elections.
In a statement made available to INNONEWS on Friday, Emmanuel Okwu, president of OZAC, described the APC chairman’s remarks as a demonstration of political sincerity and a commitment to addressing the long-standing agitation for equity in Imo’s governorship rotation.
“It shows the ruling party is politically honest and has chosen to do the right thing. The posture of the party chairman is a deeper reflection of the resolve to solve the equity puzzle which has haunted Owerri Zone and denied it the governorship for decades,” Okwu said.
According to him, the APC chairman’s position also reflects the party’s resolve to enthrone fairness, equity and justice in the state’s political leadership, adding that it has strengthened confidence in the Owerri governorship project.
OZAC said although it was not opposed to aspirants from Owerri Zone contesting the governorship on the platforms of other political parties, it believes the APC provides the clearest route to achieving the zone’s age-long aspiration.
“We are not opposed to other Owerri Zone candidates from other political parties seeking to become governor in 2027. However, we have absolute faith and confidence that the ruling APC possesses the pathway to the realization of an Imo governor of Owerri Zone extraction,” the statement said.
The coalition also described the APC chairman as “a visionary”, saying he deserves commendation for publicly taking a stand on the governorship issue at a time political calculations ahead of 2027 are gathering momentum.
Okwu added that the chairman’s remarks leave little doubt about the direction of the ruling party, saying they indicate that the party’s leader in the state, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has settled for the emergence of a governor of Owerri Zone extraction in 2027. He urged political stakeholders across the state to support the equity principle to foster unity, fairness and political stability in Imo State.
