Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has declared that the people of Imo have made their choice for the 2027 presidential election, throwing their weight behind President Bola Tinubu for a second term. Speaking on Friday, July 17, in Owerri during a reception for a presidential media tour, Uzodimma argued that Tinubu's policies have directly improved conditions in the state and across Nigeria.
Uzodimma Defends Tinubu's Fuel Subsidy Removal
The governor offered a personal testimony to explain his support for the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023. He recalled that when he was inaugurated on January 15, 2020, the state accountant-general returned from a Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting with funds that barely covered salaries, leaving only N100 million in the treasury. After the subsidy removal, FAAC allocations surged to over N10.7 billion. "Immediately May 29th, 2023, came, after FAAC, I saw over N10.7 billion. I said what? So, when people were trying to oppose removal of subsidy, I had to put my belt and my jeans, I came out and said subsidy must be removed," Uzodimma said.
IGR Growth and Debt Reduction
Uzodimma also highlighted the state's economic progress under his administration. Monthly internally generated revenue (IGR) has risen from below N400 million in 2020 to nearly N6 billion. The state's debt burden has fallen from N287 billion to under N90 billion. On electricity, the governor said Imo now independently generates, transmits, and distributes power within the state capital, including the government house, describing it as "homemade electricity." He added: "We will not disappoint. By the end of this year, we will continue to respond to the local government. Imo is ready for business."
2027 Election Contenders
Nigeria's general elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, when voters will elect the president and vice president, as well as members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Governorship and State House of Assembly elections will follow on February 6, 2027. Incumbent President Tinubu, a longtime APC chieftain, is seeking a second term. Alongside Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra Governor Peter Obi are widely regarded as the leading contenders. Atiku is a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Obi is a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Uzodimma's Role as Renewed Hope Ambassador
Earlier, President Tinubu appointed Uzodimma as the Renewed Hope Ambassador. According to a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Uzodimma will double as the director-general for the party's outreach, engagement and mobilisation. Tinubu said he expects Uzodimma and his colleagues to promote and disseminate the APC's achievements since 2023, reinforcing the message of Renewed Hope nationwide.
The governor concluded: "Our people have already decided that they want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu back as the president, because without him and his policies and programmes, this environment we are enjoying today would have been very impossible to achieve."
