Zoning is Alien To Us; Okigwe Zone Leaders Tell Maurice Iwu, Tony Chukwu, Ohanwe
As They Reject Their Manipulation And Kangaroo Zoning In Okigwe Zone Ahead Of 2027 Elections,
Accuse Them Of Sabotage And Betrayal Of APC, Tinubu And Uzodimma In 2023 Elections
Participants at the last Okigwe zone leadership meeting convened by Okigwe Global Leadership Forum held on Sunday,3rd April 2026 at Protea Hotel, Owerri, rose in unison to reject what they described as skewed,selfish and kangaroo zoning arrangement canvassed by the trio of Chief Tony Chukwu, Professor Maurice Iwu,Eze Oliver Ohanwe and other promoters of the leadership Forum.
The meeting which was widely publicised with its topmost Agenda clearly stated as being convened for aspirants contesting for various elective positions in the forthcoming 2027 General elections irrespective of party affiliation to come for the purpose of re-affirming the Okigwe 2022 zoning documents attracted a large turnout of participants drawn from the six Council Areas of Imo North senatorial District.
In a melodrama that unfolded in the course of the meeting,the conveners of Okigwe Global Leadership Forum made up of Chief Tony Chukwu, Professor Maurice Iwu,Eze Oliver Ohanwe and others in their separate remarks canvassed for micro zoning of various elective positions and boasted that similar initiative they canvassed in 2023 worked out notwithstanding that the victory recorded in one of the elections as was prescribed by their zoning proposal was truncated by the Courts. According to Prof Maurice Iwu who is a prominent leader of the Forum and a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC said they zoned the Okigwe South House of Representatives position to Ihitte-Uboma and that the outcome of the election was successful because they did everything to ensure that the candidate of the PDP was announced the winner,so that justified the position they had canvassed for, but regretted that their victory was truncated through the courts which was a different ball game.
This confession underscored how these leaders masquerading as APC Chieftains and supporters of Governor Hope Uzodimma worked behind the scenes to disobey the Governor’s directives to deliver the APC Candidates in the Federal election which included that of President Tinubu,Senator Patrick Ndubueze and Representative Chike Okafor,
It could be recalled that during that election,the trio of President Tinubu,Chike Okafor and Senator Patrick Ndubueze were sabotaged and results written in favour of the PDP Candidates which made Atiku Abubakar and Jonas Okeke to win President Tinubu and Chike Okafor respectively in Ehime Mbano and Ihitte Uboma Council Areas.
The leaders of the Forum basking on the euphoria of what they described as a huge success in their purported microzoning of elective positions in Okigwe zone in 2023 reconvened again to microzone elective positions ahead of 2027 elections.
However, this development drew the ire and consternation of majority of those in attendance who decried their selfish and kangaroo zoning arrangement to impose their cronies on the people.
There was palpable fear amongst the people who suspected fowl play with the purported zoning discussion and this led to an uproar as the meeting progressed.
The participants regretted that the meeting convened for the purported microzoning was belated and late considering the fact that most of the aspirants had already purchase forms before the meeting was convened.A cross section of leaders in attendance, including some of the aspirants expressed their reservations and condemned what they perceived as self serving motives being bandied as collective interest,they posited that the conveners did not carry the people along and should not have started convening such a sensitive meeting to discuss microzoning after the aspirants have purchased nomination forms.A serial contestant,Hon Chikwem Onuoha aspiring for House of Representatives seat for Okigwe North federal Constituency said that he had contested severally in the past and that he will not step down for anybody.Also,Mr Ike Odoeme, from Ihitte Uboma LGA, aspiring for Senatorial position maintained that the microzoning being canvassed for the senatorial and other positions was ambiguous and not clear and that he will continue with his aspiration.Speaking on behalf of the three term House of Representatives member representing Okigwe South,Deacon Chike Okafor,his Senior Legislative Aide,Hon Vitus Okonkwo who represented him in Okigwe Global Leadership meeting countered their manipulated and jaundiced zoning arrangement and poisted that there has never been any zoning arrangement in Okigwe South which was quickly corroborated by Engr Francis Chukwu, Chief Tony Chukwu’s younger brother who is also an aspirant for Okigwe South Federal Constituency.
In a sharp and strong counter to the confessions and flawed narratives,Hon Vitus took a strong position rejecting claims that zoning played pivotal role to their so-called victory.He insisted that Okigwe South Federal Constituency has never entrenched zoning, reiterating that it has always been “an open contest”for all qualified candidates.He further rejected any attempts by groups or individuals to gang up against aspirants from the Constituency calling such moves undemocratic and divisive.Hon Vitus seized the opportunity to issue a passionate appeal to the people of Okigwe South to throw their weight behind Hon Deacon Chike Okafor in future contest.According to Okonkwo,Okafor’s seniority, experience and academic status would allow the Constituency to take advantage of ranking benefits and the parliamentary traditions of power – sharing benefits that would directly impact Okigwe South,Imo State, and Nigeria at large.” We cannot afford to bury our talents as Okonkwo quoted Mathew25…14 to 30.Hon Deacon Chike Okafor has the seniority and capacity to bring home the dividends of democracy that came with ranking in the National Assembly”. Okonkwo stated.”It is time for Okigwe South to vote wisely and stop sabotaging it’s own future”
Meanwhile, the revalation by the Okigwe Global Leadership Forum on how they sabotaged the directives of the Governor and worked in favour of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is causing ripples and mixed feelings with APC faithfuls in Okigwe zone calling for immediate sanctions against Chief Tony Chukwu,Prof Maurice Iwu and Eze Oliver Ohanwe for anti party activities and also asking Governor Hope Uzodimma and the general public to disregard any jaundiced,erroneous and selfish communique these group may issue as a result,
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the meeting at Protea Hotel, Owerri,has exposed the political undercurrents and clearly drawn a line in the sand: Loyalty to Governor Uzodimma and the APC vs the confessed betrayal by its own members on self serving mission.