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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Imo State chapter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has admonished Governor Hope Uzodimma to face the challenges of governance and stop junketing around, following the defeat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun governorship polls last Saturday.
The party described the resounding defeat suffered by the ruling APC in the August 15, 2026, Osun governorship election, despite Governor Uzodimma’s role as Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council, moving into the state with over 17 governors, as a sobering reminder that elections are ultimately won by the people, not by the number of governors imported into a state.
The opposition PDP alleged that Governor Uzodimma, who has perfected the art of lobbying for virtually every APC political assignment, failed again to achieve success, notwithstanding that the APC constituted a high-powered campaign council under his leadership, comprising top party leaders, governors, senators and other national figures. “Yet, when the people of Osun spoke, they spoke decisively and sent Uzodimma out in shame”, the PDP said.
In a press statement issued yesterday by the state Publicity Secretary, Hon. Lancelot Obiaku, read: “For Governor Uzodimma, this is not an entirely unfamiliar experience. In 2021, he similarly chaired the APC’s National Campaign Council for the Anambra governorship election, leading a formidable campaign structure that included several governors and national political heavyweights. But the APC still lost that election to Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of APGA.
“Having now recorded two high-profile defeats in two assignments, perhaps, the governor should now consider that his greatest political assignment is not in Osun, Anambra, or Abuja, but to face the challenge of governance right here in Imo State.
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“What is particularly perplexing is that while Governor Uzodimma is busy travelling from one political assignment to another, and grandstanding on national platforms, the roads of Imo State are falling apart in the hands of the rainy season. Ring roads, bypasses, community and rural roads across the state have remained deteriorated and abandoned, while even the few roads constructed by his administration are already showing signs of serious failure after only a few rainfalls.
“Our public schools are not faring any better. Across the state, pupils and students continue to contend with dilapidated learning environments, inadequate teaching and learning materials, and insufficient teachers. Many public schools are now bushy, abandoned and overtaken by rodents and all manner of reptiles. This is hardly the picture of a government and governor that should be spending so much time and resources pursuing political assignments outside the state”.
The statement continued: “The security situation is equally disturbing. Communities around Ihiagwa, Avu, and other areas in the state have continued to experience the frightening activities of kidnappers and other criminal elements. Recent security operations around these communities reveal the seriousness of the threat. Yet, the governor appears increasingly detached from the immediate realities confronting ordinary Imolites.
“We, therefore, advise Governor Uzodimma to return home and govern. Even though Imo people did not actually elect him, he is not governor to become a permanent campaign chairman, political lobbyist, or itinerant campaigner. They elected him to provide good roads, quality education, security, healthcare, jobs, and an enabling environment for citizens to live and prosper.
“The governor should stop celebrating every temporary political assignment as though it were an achievement. He should spend less time lobbying for positions and junketing across the country and devote more time to the state whose resources finance the office he occupies.”
