2027: Ideato Lawmakers Endorse Uzodimma for Imo West Senate Seat

Lawmakers from Ideato North and Ideato South have endorsed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as their preferred candidate for the Imo West senatorial seat in the 2027 general election.

The endorsement is politically significant because Ideato is the home of former Imo State Governor and Senator Rochas Okorocha, who has challenged Uzodimma’s nomination in court, claiming he was the rightful winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary.

The two local government legislative councils held a joint plenary session at the Umuchima Bridge, a major infrastructure project being constructed by the Uzodimma administration. The councillors said the decision to hold the session at the project site was intended to highlight what they described as the governor’s interventions across Ideato.

The lawmakers cited road construction, erosion control, security and other infrastructure projects as reasons for backing Uzodimma. They subsequently passed a joint endorsement declaring him their preferred APC candidate for the Imo West senatorial seat in the 2027 election.

Moving the motion for the special plenary, Dikenafai councillor Donatus Ebere said the Umuchima Bridge was a fitting venue because of the infrastructure difficulties previously experienced in the area. Members of both councils unanimously supported the motion and used the occasion to commend the governor’s projects.

The Leader of the Ideato South Legislative Council, Hyacinth Onyenekezi, announced a vote of confidence in Uzodimma and urged other aspirants to step aside for the governor. He also praised President Bola Tinubu and Uzodimma over what he described as improvements in infrastructure and security.

“Ideato is strictly APC. We urge other aspirants to step aside for our distinguished Senator,” Onyenekezi said.

The endorsement was also backed by the chairmen of Ideato North and South local governments, Chukwunonso Okparaeke and Okechukwu Okwara. They praised the governor’s reconstruction of strategic roads in the area, while local legislative leaders highlighted his interventions against gully erosion.

Ideato North Legislative Council Leader Otuodi Ezeonuegbu said the governor’s erosion-control efforts had helped restore access to communities previously affected by severe gullies. The endorsements come as the legal and political contest surrounding the APC ticket for Imo West continues to attract attention ahead of the 2027 elections.