by Maazi Obinna Akuwudike
Politics, like life, is often not about who has the most resources but who knows how to use what they have most effectively. Owerri Zone, despite its numerical advantage, continues to find itself on the losing end of Imo State’s governorship battle. The reason? Disunity.
The other day, Governor Hope Uzodimma hosted stakeholders from Owerri Zone. But the initial plan of that meeting didn’t involve everybody. It a selfish move by a group called Harmony that already has Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi as their candidate, to sway Uzodimma to their side.
The governor in his wisdom saw their game and thwarted it when he invited other groups and stakeholders to the meeting.
During the meeting, Governor Hope Uzodimma while pledging his support to Owerri zone, pointed out our problem—disunity.
To understand Owerri Zone’s predicament, let’s consider a simple but powerful analogy.
Imagine a hostel with a capacity of 100 students. Every morning, breakfast is served—Akara and Pap. Out of the 100 students, 80 consistently complain about the meal, arguing that they want something different. The remaining 20, however, are perfectly happy with it.
Faced with these daily complaints, the hostel warden decides to introduce a voting system. Every evening, the students will vote on what they want for breakfast the next morning. The meal with the highest votes will be served.
When voting starts, the 20 students who like Akara and Pap always cast their votes for it. However, the remaining 80, instead of coming together to back a single alternative, split their votes among different options:
- 18 vote for Tea and Bread
- 16 vote for Egg Sauce & Yam
- 14 vote for Jollof Rice
- 12 vote for Spaghetti
- 10 vote for Indomie
- 10 vote for Moi Moi & Pap
At the end of each vote count, Akara and Pap always wins—not because it is the most popular choice, but because those who dislike it are unable to unite behind a single alternative.
The Lesson:
A divided majority is powerless against a united minority. As long as the 80% who dislike Akara and Pap remain divided, the 20% who support it will continue to dominate decisions.
This is precisely what has been happening in the political struggle of Owerri Zone.
Owerri Zone: A Majority Without Power
Owerri Zone has more local governments than Okigwe Zone, a larger voter base than both Orlu and Okigwe Zones, and a strong argument for zoning. Yet, since the return of democracy in 1999, the zone has only held the governorship briefly, and even that was cut short.
In contrast, Orlu Zone has ruled Imo State for 20 of the last 25 years:
- Achike Udenwa (Orlu Zone) — 1999-2007
- Ikedi Ohakim (Okigwe Zone) — 2007-2011
- Rochas Okorocha (Orlu Zone) — 2011-2019
- Emeka Ihedioha (Owerri Zone) — 2019-2020 (Removed by Supreme Court)
- Hope Uzodimma (Orlu Zone) — 2020-Present
Even when Owerri Zone had its moment in 2019 with Emeka Ihedioha’s victory, it was unable to consolidate power, allowing Orlu Zone to reclaim it.
Why Does Owerri Zone Keep Losing?
The root of Owerri Zone’s failure is its inability to unite behind a single candidate. Just like the hostel students who wanted something other than Akara and Pap but could not agree on one meal, Owerri Zone repeatedly presents multiple candidates, each backed by different factions.
Patterns of Division in Past Elections
- 2015: Owerri Zone had multiple strong candidates, splitting votes among themselves. Meanwhile, Orlu Zone rallied behind Rochas Okorocha, securing his reelection.
- 2019: Emeka Ihedioha from Owerri Zone won but could not consolidate power. A divided Owerri Zone failed to protect its own, allowing Orlu’s Hope Uzodimma to reclaim the governorship through legal battles.
- 2023: Despite discussions on zoning, Owerri Zone once again lacked a united front, ensuring that Orlu Zone maintained control.
This pattern keeps repeating because Owerri politicians prioritize personal ambition over collective strategy. Instead of coming together early, they engage in internal battles that weaken the zone’s chances.
Orlu Zone, despite being numerically smaller, plays politics with precision. Their strategy is simple:
- Present One Strong Contender:
Instead of multiple Orlu candidates fighting each other, their political elite consolidates early around a single aspirant. - Ensure Loyalty:
Once they pick their candidate, they rally behind them, ensuring the entire zone moves as a unit. - Secure Victory Through Strategy:
By focusing on unity rather than individual ambitions, Orlu Zone consistently wins even when Owerri Zone has more numbers.
2027: A Make-or-Break Moment for Owerri
With 2027 approaching, Owerri Zone has another chance to change its political destiny. But will it?
If past behavior continues, the same mistakes will repeat:
- Several Owerri candidates will emerge.
- Each will have their own political godfathers, supporters, and financial backers.
- Instead of working together, they will fight each other.
- Orlu Zone will unite early behind one strong candidate.
- When the votes are counted, Owerri will once again be left watching from the sidelines.
What Must Owerri Zone Do Differently?
If Owerri truly wants to succeed, it must abandon the politics of selfish ambition and embrace collective strategy.
- Identify a Consensus Candidate Early:
The sooner Owerri Zone picks a single candidate, the better. This will prevent internal battles that weaken their chances. - Build a Strong Political Alliance:
Instead of working in isolation, Owerri must forge alliances with political forces that can strengthen their bid. - Prioritize Strategy Over Emotion:
Politics is not about who is right but who is smart. Owerri must learn from Orlu and play the game with precision. - Rally Behind the Chosen Candidate:
Once a candidate is selected, personal grudges must be set aside. The entire zone must unite to ensure victory.
The Choice Before Owerri Zone
The question is simple:
Will Owerri Zone continue its pattern of division and allow Orlu Zone to retain power in 2027?
Or will it finally wake up, unite, and take what is rightfully within its reach?
The choice is theirs:
- Remain divided and continue eating Akara and Pap at the mercy of others.
- Unite and finally change the menu.
Because in politics, there is power in unity—not just in numbers.
