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In Imo State, the political calculus for the next governorship election has shifted, as Owerri Zone Peoples Mandate (OWZOPEM), a newly minted political group, has entered the fray, intensifying the rivalry between Okigwe and Owerri zones to produce the successor to Orlu Zone.
At the helm of Owerri Zone Peoples Mandate (OWZOPEM) are three visionary leaders: Prof. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, Capt. David Mbamara, now chairman of the group, and Chief Mike Nwachukwu, who heads the Strategic Committee, driving the movement’s mission forward.
Following their inaugural meeting in Owerri on Saturday, June 29, the group issued a communique announcing the establishment of a high-level outreach committee, tasked with building bridges with Okigwe Zone through the Okigwe Global Elders Forum and Orlu Zone via the Orlu Political Consultative Assembly (OPOCA).
By engaging with Okigwe Zone, the group seeks to preempt potential conflicts and ensure a harmonious pursuit of their shared goal: to produce the next Governor of Imo State.
In the communique, the group announced its intention to reach out to the Ohaji/Egbema community through a letter, clarifying their stance on remaining within Imo State’s borders despite the growing call for Orlu State’s establishment.
Read also: 2027: Orlu Monarchs Endorse Owerri Zone To Succeed Uzodinma
They also commended Governor Hope Uzodinma for the good works he is doing in the state and his support for Owerri Zone to produce the next Governor of the state.
According to a statement released to the press, the meeting’s objectives included a plan to promptly engage with Okigwe Zone’s advocates, notably the Okigwe Global Elders Forum led by HRH Eze Oliver Ohanweh, to forge a mutual understanding and prevent potential conflicts in their pursuit of the governorship.
Capt. Mbamara, chairman of the new group, passionately addressed the gathering, highlighting the unprecedented marginalization of Owerri Zone in the quest for the governorship, a trend that has persisted since the dawn of Nigeria’s democratic era in 1999.
Capt. Mbamara’s address took a reflective turn as he recalled Imo State’s inception in 1976, a time when he was barely out of elementary school, and lamented the fact that, in the nearly five decades since, Owerri Zone has been consistently overlooked for the top political post.
Time and again, Owerri Zone has been marginalized, forced to play second fiddle as other zones ascend to the governorship.
Capt. Mbamara lamented that the pattern set in 1999 has persisted, perpetuating Owerri Zone’s struggles in every subsequent election. He emphasized the need for unity this time around, urging the zone to rally behind a single objective: producing the next Governor of Imo State.
