Leaders from Okigwe Zone across political backgrounds have set aside their differences and resolved to form a united front toward securing the Imo State governorship for the Zone after the tenure of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
This resolution followed a consultative meeting held where the leaders agreed to collapse all existing political structures into one cohesive platform aimed at advancing the development and political relevance of Okigwe Zone, which they described as historically underdeveloped.
The leaders while on visit to government house on Friday, the 9th of January, 2026, commended the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, for what they described as his giant strides across the state, including Okigwe Zone. where they passed a vote of confidence on his administration.
During the visit, the delegation noted that over 80 percent of capital projects from the administrations of His Excellency, Ikedi Ohakim, Rochas Okorocha, and the current Uzodimma administration have been concentrated in Owerri Zone, where the state capital is located.
They observed that this has given Owerri Zone a significant infrastructural advantage to the detriment of other zones. According to the leaders, Okigwe Zone continues to grapple with infrastructural deficits, inadequate social amenities, and rising criminal activities, challenges they attributed largely to years of neglect and uneven development.
Former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, who was visibly emotional while delivering a vote of thanks to Governor Uzodimma, recounted the developmental challenges facing Okigwe Zone and emphasized the imbalance in project distribution in favour of Owerri Zone over the years.
Earlier, Distinguished Senator Patrick Ndubueze, FNSE, who introduced members of the high-powered delegation, expressed appreciation to Governor Uzodimma for key appointments allocated to Okigwe Zone. These include: Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly,
Chief Cosmas Iwu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. Lady Chioma Ohakim, recently appointed Ambassador, Rt. Hon. Prince Barr. Anthony Emeka Nduka, former Speaker and now Director-General of the Imo–Anambra River Basin Authority, an Dr Cliff Ogbede as member of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. Ozichukwu, Members of the House of Representatives and the Senator himself, among others.
Senator Ndubueze later addressed another gathering of Okigwe Zonal leaders, which included the former Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence S. U. Uche, prominent traditional rulers such as HRM Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanwe (Eze Gburugburu of Igbo land), and the traditional ruler of Isiama Autonomous Community in Isiala Mbano LGA, HRM Eze Iheanacho C. Ndukwe, the Chairman Okigwe Zone Council of Traditional Ruler, and Deputy Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Community Policing, as well as academia leaders including Prof. Christopher Eze, who is the Ag. Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo and Prof. Stella Ngozi Lemchi, Vice Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal University College of Education
At a subsequent Okigwe Zonal Meeting held on January 12, 2026, at the residence of Sir Tony Chukwu, leaders highlighted the importance of convening soon after their visit to the governor. They disclosed that beyond appreciating the governor, the zone made formal demands—chief among them the insistence that the next governor of Imo State should emerge from Okigwe Zone, a position read by Prof. (Nze) Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu.
In his address, Senator Ndubueze urged the people of Okigwe Zone to embrace peace, unity, and collective responsibility, stressing that internal cohesion is essential for achieving the zone’s political aspirations and overall development.
He further commended Governor Uzodimma, CON, for his ongoing developmental projects across Imo State, including those sited in Okigwe Zone. The position of the Okigwe Zone reiterated the remarks of Chief Tony Chukwu, the apex leader and APC chieftain in Okigwe Zone, who made a passionate appeal for unity among the zone’s leaders, lamenting years of internal divisions that have stalled progress.
Chief Tony Chukwu in his advise to Okigwe Zone, revealed that his longstanding advocacy for an Okigwe governorship had often put him at odds with interests from other zones, particularly Owerri Zone, but insisted that unity within Okigwe remains the missing link.
Chief Chukwu declared that he had set aside personal ambitions and would support any credible and qualified governorship candidate from Okigwe Zone, provided such candidacy receives the backing of Governor Hope Uzodimma. He called on all leaders to subordinate personal interests to the collective goal of the zone.
Recall that an enlarged meeting of Okigwe leaders held earlier at Chief Tony Chukwu’s country home had resolved to form a united front to capture power in 2028, following the tenure of Governor Uzodimma. That resolution led to the courtesy visit to the governor where their position was formally presented.
One of the key outcomes of the January 9, 2026 meeting with the governor was the decision to set up a committee to assess the challenges facing Okigwe Zone. The committee is expected to propose practical solutions and advise the governor on quick-fix interventions aimed at improving infrastructure, expanding social amenities, creating jobs, and reducing crime across the zone, that Committee is now formally in place waiting for governor's inuaguration.
Report by Fredrick Njoku