Pressure is mounting on Chief Tony Chukwu, a prominent political figure from Okigwe Zone, as Professor Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, a former Commissioner and APC chieftain, has publicly challenged him to clarify his stance on the Imo Charter of Equity. Ajumbe, speaking on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, insisted that Chukwu must now choose between supporting Okigwe’s quest for governorship or maintaining Owerri as the state capital.
The controversy traces back to an event in Lagos where Chief Chukwu had suggested that Owerri Zone could keep the governorship slot only if they agreed to relocate the state capital to Okigwe. That statement, according to Ajumbe, created confusion and deepened existing political tensions within Imo State’s zoning debate.
Ajumbe argued that if the Charter of Equity is to be respected, then Okigwe Zone deserves the governorship slot in 2027. He recalled that the zoning formula originally started with Orlu’s Achike Udenwa, followed by Okigwe’s Ikedi Ohakim before the rotation was allegedly disrupted by Owerri leaders during the 2011 elections.
Referring to historical grievances, Ajumbe blamed certain Owerri elites for undermining the equity arrangement by pushing Rochas Okorocha, an Orlu native, into the 2011 governorship race at the expense of Okigwe’s second tenure claim. He described how false narratives, especially the “Reverend Father beating” accusation against Ohakim, were weaponized to destroy Okigwe’s political momentum.
Going further, Ajumbe proposed that any future Okigwe governorship candidate must commit, in writing, to serve only one term. He stressed that this would allow Owerri Zone to have its turn in 2031, maintaining political balance across the three zones of Imo State.
Addressing Governor Hope Uzodimma’s recent comments that he prioritizes continuity over zoning, Ajumbe warned that this signals a return to open political contest where all zones, including Orlu, could field candidates. He cautioned Owerri leaders that unless they strike a strategic understanding with Okigwe, their 2027 governorship dream could collapse.
As the 2027 election cycle gathers momentum, Ajumbe’s direct message to Chief Tony Chukwu is loud and clear: “Come out and tell Imo people what you want. Do you want the governorship for Okigwe Zone, or do you want the state capital moved to Okigwe? You can’t have both.”
