By Emmanuel Iheaka
SINCE the return to democracy in 1999, no governor of Imo State has produced a successor. The first governor of the state in the current republic, Chief Achike Udenwa, failed to install a successor at the end of his two-term of eight years in 2007.
Successive governors of the state have emerged through either what could be described as ballot revolution or powers from above.
By the time the dust of the 2007 governorship election in the state settled, Chief Ikedi Ohakim of the now defunct Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, had been declared the new helmsman of Imo. Ohakim would later be ousted in 2011, in what could be described as one of the biggest political upsets in the current republic in the state.
Eccentric Rochas Okorocha led a people-centred movement to displace Ohakim. But again, Okorocha failed to install a successor, when what majority saw as a selfish bid to crown his son in-law, came crumbling like a pack of cards.
Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, had the shortest stay on the governorship saddle of the state, following his sack by the Supreme Court, which paved the way for the incumbent, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
Can Uzodimma break the jinx by producing a successor? Time will tell. However, there are early indications that the opposition will literally be fighting the battle of their life in the bid to maintain the history of the state, in not allowing any governor to produce a successor. Though the state government and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, have distanced themselves, the early attacks on opposition parties leave no one in doubt that it is not going to be a walk in the park for those opposing the APC.
Pre-poll violence
About a week ago, thugs reportedly disrupted a meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in Owerri Municipal, in which a Senatorial candidate of the party, Uche Onyeagucha, was addressing party members.
Few days after the incident, the Young Progressives Party, YPP, and the All Peoples Party, APP, reported an attempt to break into their secretariats and destruction of their billboards at about midnight.
The Imo State Chairman of YPP, Michael Anyanwu, said he got a distress call at about 3:00am on the fateful day, alerting him of the attack. Anyanwu vowed that his party would fight on.
“I got a distress call by security guards on ground that between the hours of 3 and 4am, some unidentified men in an unmarked Sienna vehicle came to our party secretariat, vandalised our signages and wanted to make entry into the party secretariat, if not that our security guards had to create panic alert which made them to disperse.
“This is not campaign signage, this is just to show landmark. I wonder why we will be targeted. Are they trying to silence opposition parties in Imo State?
“I have gone to the police to make an entry. We are law-abiding party; we are not going to be cowed by anybody”, the chairman submitted.
Attack stage-managed – APC
The ruling APC has dismissed the said attack as stage-managed, and warned the opposition to play by the rules.
In a statement, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Onwuasoanya Jones, said there were indications that the purported attack might have been stage-managed.
APC stated that it is not threatened by the existence of any opposition party in the state and urged the opposition to play by the rules.
“The All Progressives Congress in Imo State is not threatened by the existence of any political Party and would not go outside the law and established democratic methods in ensuring that we maintain our unassailable popularity and acceptability with Imo people.
“Our Party frowns at any act of violence and disorderly behaviour and we encourage all opposition parties in the state to play by the rules by working towards convincing Imolites with logical arguments and verifiable records about why their parties might deserve the consideration of Imo people, rather than resorting to crude and unlawful strategies in order to draw attention.
“While these parties might consider this as Disruptive Advertising or Marketing strategy, we must warn them to ensure that they follow the law in carrying out their activities and marketing their political parties to the populace, as any attempt to disturb the peace of the state or cause panic will be reported to the appropriate authorities for necessary investigations and actions”, the party had submitted.
Speaking to Vanguard, APP which has become a major opposition party in the state, however, appears unperturbed and unruffled. Cajetan Duke, former Publicity Secretary of the party in Imo, and now the Chief Press Secretary to the leader of the party, Chima Amadi, insisted that APC is exit-bound in the state. According to Duke, the recent actions of the APC follow the known last minute pattern of actions of previously ousted ruling parties in the state.
“APP has demonstrated enough readiness for the 2027 general elections in Imo. APC is aware that APP is the party to beat in Imo. APP is now the largest number one opposition party in Imo. We have two National Assembly members. That’s an indication of strength and acceptability.
“What is happening in Imo has become a panic-reaction pattern by governments. In 2011, the PDP government was very hostile to Imo people because they realised the people had rejected them, to the point the government prevented APGA from holding a rally at the stadium. At a time, Rochas had to hold the rally on the streets of Owerri. What was the resultant effect of it, the people spoke through the ballot.
Panic mood
“In 2019, the outgoing government went into that panic mood and became hostile to the opposition. When they realised the people had left them, they decided to weaponise the government against the opposition. At the end of the day, the people stood their ground.
“Today, the APC in Imo knows that the 2027 election is about the people trying to take back their destiny in their hands. The people are looking for credible alternatives and they have found that in APP.
“You cannot intimidate people who have made up their minds. We have seen governments come and go. We know the behavioural tendencies of a government that is exit-bound. Imo people should remain resolute and law abiding. The darkest part of the night is the hour next to dawn. Guard your PVC, our votes will count”.
Another major opposition party in the state, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, told Vanguard that it was battle-ready for the APC.
State Publicity Secretary of the party, Macdonald Amadi, claimed that ADC has captured the nooks and crannies of the state .
“My party has come to save Nigeria from hunger and starvation; provide basic health, quality education, and infrastructure. Our party is rooted in rule of law, and abhors violence and election rigging.
“If there is any party that is prepared to rule in Imo, it is ADC. Our party has sold itself to the people of Imo in all the nooks and crannies of the state. We are ready for the 2027 general elections.
“Our party is against blackmail and running down individuals. ADC believes in constructive criticism and holding governments accountable by getting them to pursue policies aimed at ensuring the welfare of the people.”
Uzodimma’s scorecard
There is a seeming consensus that the Uzodimma administration has done well in road construction and rescuing the state to a large extent, from the insecurity that ravaged it for years. But not a few point to the apparent neglect of the education sector, with many school buildings in decrepit condition. There is also what analysts describe as the disconnect between Uzodimma and the people, owing to what they term the governor’s elitist disposition.
The APP led by the energetic Chima Amadi, and House of Representatives member, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has been vociferous in its criticism of the Uzodimma administration.
The ADC, led by Emeka Ihedioha, has however, not been that loud. The surprising appearance of the erstwhile House of Representatives Speaker at the recent celebration of Imo at 50, where he received an award from Uzodimma, had sparked speculations and permutations about the 2027 political intrigues.
The NDC doesn’t seem to have a definite governor aspirant at the moment. But one can easily guess that the former Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, will fill in the gap.
Whatever be the case, the forthcoming 2027 off-circle governorship election in Imo will be a clash of the titans that will either rewrite or retain the political history of the state.
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