Political tension has gripped stakeholders across Imo State following Governor Hope Uzodimma’s latest stance on the 2027 governorship succession, which signals a departure from zoning arrangements long advocated by leaders in Owerri and Okigwe zones.
During his recent public remarks, Uzodimma declared that zoning would not determine who emerges as the next governor. Instead, he emphasized that only a candidate capable of sustaining his administration’s developmental strides would earn his support, regardless of their senatorial zone.
This statement, widely reported in local media on June 24, 2025, has sparked anxiety among politicians and groups who had been lobbying on the premise that, for the sake of equity, power should shift to either Owerri or Okigwe zone after Orlu’s long hold on the seat.
Owerri and Okigwe political blocs, which had formed advocacy platforms and caucuses over the past year, are now reassessing their strategies amid fears that Uzodimma’s comments could tilt the race in favor of another Orlu candidate.
Reactions from leaders monitored across traditional and online media platforms show mounting frustration. Many accuse the governor of abandoning the Charter of Equity—a political agreement designed to promote rotational leadership among the three zones.
Some stakeholders warn that Uzodimma’s position could trigger heightened political tension and voter apathy, with critics alleging that the governor is more interested in loyalty to his political legacy than fairness in state leadership rotation.
Sources within the political circles say fresh consultations are ongoing, with meetings scheduled by pro-zoning groups to draft a unified response. Observers fear that unless the governor clarifies his position, the 2027 governorship race may become the most divisive in the state’s history.
