Imo Governorship 2027: I Will Support Any Credible Okigwe Candidate Endorsed By Gov. Uzodimma — Tony Chukwu
The Okigwe Senatorial Zone apex leader and APC chieftain, Chief Tony Chukwu (Onweghi Ihie Kariri Chineke), has reiterated his strong advocacy for power rotation in Imo State, insisting that the governorship seat should shift to Okigwe Zone in 2027.
Chief Chukwu declared that he has set aside personal ambitions and is prepared to support any credible and qualified governorship candidate from Okigwe Zone, provided such a candidate is endorsed by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
He urged leaders of Okigwe extraction to subordinate personal interests to the collective aspiration of the zone, stressing that unity remains critical to achieving the long-standing political goal of producing the next governor of Imo State.
The billionaire business mogul made this known during an enlarged meeting of Okigwe leaders held recently at his country home. He disclosed that leaders of the zone have resolved to form a united front to secure the Imo State governorship after the expiration of Governor Uzodimma’s tenure.
Recall that Chukwu had publicly asserted Okigwe Zone’s claim to the governorship last year at a reception luncheon in Lagos organised in honour of Governor Hope Uzodimma. The event was hosted by renowned global IT entrepreneur and founder of ZINOX Group, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh.
While Chief Ekeh had used the occasion to canvass support for Owerri Zone to produce the next governor, Chief Chukwu promptly countered the position, insisting that 2027 rightly belongs to Okigwe Zone.
He maintained that Okigwe people would no longer relinquish their opportunity to Owerri Zone, describing years of political marginalisation as unjust and unacceptable. He noted that the principle of power rotation, when properly implemented, promotes equity and balanced development.
Chief Chukwu further argued that Okigwe Zone lags behind Owerri and Orlu Zones in key human development indices, attributing this gap to prolonged exclusion from political leadership. He stressed that the zone now requires a tested, competent, and credible leader to succeed Governor Uzodimma.
He also alleged that a disproportionate share of Imo State’s allocations is expended in Owerri Zone, with major investments in education, healthcare, and social infrastructure concentrated there.
Chief Chukwu suggested that Owerri Zone could concede the state capital to Okigwe Zone if it still desires to produce the next governor, emphasizing that equity and fairness must guide political negotiations in Imo State.
