Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has confirmed he will contest a Senate seat in the 2027 general elections and called on All Progressives Congress (APC) members to unite behind all the party’s candidates.
Uzodimma made the declaration on Wednesday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, where he addressed party leaders and members.
“I will be on the ballot as a senatorial candidate,” he said.
The governor linked President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign to the fortunes of every APC candidate, including himself.
“So all of us, the challenge of re-electing Mr. President is the challenge of re-electing every member of APC. It follows that our party has no excuse not to win,” Uzodimma said.
He stressed that internal unity was essential for success at the polls.
“Victory is guaranteed when we are united. Victory is guaranteed when we are committed and work as a focused team. So we must reject any misgivings we have against each other.
“We must reconcile our differences. We must rally as one family behind the party and all the candidates. We must speak to Nigerians as one family, with one voice and one message.”
Uzodimma urged party members to set aside disagreements from the primaries and give full support to all candidates flying the APC flag.
“The primaries are behind us. Whatever disagreement they may have left, the success of one of us cannot be built on the failure of another. And every candidate who carries our flag deserves the full support of the whole party,” he said.
Senate presidency contest
The Senate presidency is decided by senators, not directly by the president or state governors. The outcome depends on the Senate’s composition after the elections and contenders’ ability to secure their colleagues’ support. However, the president’s support often plays a key role in who emerges as Senate president.
Akpabio’s call for continuity signals his preference to preserve the current legislative arrangement, with him as Senate president.
Uzodimma’s senatorial ambition, meanwhile, introduces another influential political figure into the contest for positions in the next Senate.
— Akpabio Warns Uzodimma —
The current Senate President Godswill Akpabio sent a veiled warning to Uzodimma, cautioning him to concentrate on his current responsibilities as governor.
“And for my brothers who are governors, I want you to know: you must not abandon your people. I did eight years as a governor. The constitution says you should do eight years. There is no need for you to start eyeing another position that is not available,” said Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State.
“I have been in this business for over 25 years, and I always win,” he added.
Although Akpabio did not mention Uzodimma by name, his warning against governors eyeing other political offices was clearly targeted at the Imo governor, who is the APC senatorial candidate for Imo West District for the 2027 elections.
ANN understands that Uzodimma has perfected plans to resign as governor before his tenure expires and switch to the Senate if he wins the general election.
Uzodimma’s second term as governor will end in January 2028, while the 11th Senate is expected to be inaugurated in June 2027.
Gov Uzodimma also called for greater urgency in the campaign, treating the remaining days before the election as working days.
