Shuts door on any other senatorial aspirant from Orlu Zone
The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress had earlier today played host to critical leaders of the Party from Imo West Senatorial District as they came to present the governor of Imo State, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, as the consensus candidate of the Party for Imo West Senatorial District under the Party’s platform.
Addressing the contingent, the State Chairman of the Party, Chief Austin Onyedebelu informed them that he had, in keeping with their directive, purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the governor, as they continue to mount pressure on the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum to represent the district in the incoming 11th Session of the National Assembly.
“My dear people of Orlu zone, I welcome you to the Party Secretariat and I want to inform you that I have, as directed and sponsored by you, purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for our governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, to vie for the Senatorial election on behalf of all well-meaning Orlu people.”
He presented the forms to the contingent which was led by the scion of the popular Anyaehie dynasty, Chief Barrister Nnamdi Anyaehie, while encouraging them to continue to mount pressure on the governor to accept the plea of Orlu people, by filling the forms, so that it can be submitted before the deadline of 5th May, 2026.
“I urge you not to relent in pressurising our governor to step forward and represent our people, because, he is the best to represent, not just Orlu people, but the entire Imo and Ndigbo in general. We want to send our best to return the best to us.” He said.
Responding, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie thanked the State Chairman for promptly responding to the demands of Orlu people by purchasing the forms for the governor and assured that all the leaders of Orlu Senatorial District and even leaders from within and outside Igbo land are united in requesting that the governor accepts this clarion call to return to the Senate.
“Our appeal to the governor to return to the Senate is not a selfish one, but a selfless one. We believe in his capacity, and if there was a third term, we would have wished that he continues as our governor beyond this time. His return to the Senate will benefit, not only our zone or the State, but the entire Nigeria, as we are confident that he will bring his wealth of experience and contacts into bear in stabilising the polity and working hand in hand with the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to consolidate on the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Speaking on behalf of their various LGAs, leaders after leaders spoke glowingly of the governor’s marvellous performance as governor and their absolute confidence in his capacity to deliver even more dividends of democracy to the people of the zone, if he is elected to the Senate.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu praised the governor’s spectacular performance from 2011 to 2019 when he was in the Senate and from 2020 until now, as governor, declaring that the governor has transformed the face of Imo State through his visionary and honest leadership. He pleaded with the governor to consent to returning to the Senate for the benefit of Igbo political restoration, development and progress of Nigeria.
The Orlu contingent consisted of critical political leaders and Party chieftains from the zone including; all the twelve members of the House of Representatives from Orlu zone, all LGA executive Chairmen, all LGA Party chairmen and other critical Party leaders and stakeholders.
The Party welcomes the selfless advocacy for His Excellency to return to the Senate, as we consider it, not just crucial to the advancement of the Southeast but also critical to the Party’s resurgence and stability in the zone and Nigeria at large. We therefore advise all Party members from Imo West Senatorial District to forego any plans of contesting against His Excellency in the primaries of the Party. While we shall observe all democratic norms and abide by the directives and guidelines of the National Working Committee of the Party, we must make it clear that, given the obvious consensus among leaders, officials and members of our Party in Orlu zone, it would amount to a waste of the Party’s useful time to conduct any form of primaries for Imo West Senatorial District, where it is undeniable that the governor is the consensus choice of not just Party members, but also, an overwhelming majority of the electorate in that area.
Signed,
Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, PhD
State Publicity Secretary
2nd May, 2026.
