Uzodimma’s APC Senate ticket fuels speculation of 2027 Senate Presidency bid, early exit as Imo Gov.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has formally picked up and been screened for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate ticket for Imo West Senatorial District—a move that quells earlier speculation and suggests he may resign as governor before his second term ends in January 2028.

The development has also sparked fresh political calculations within the APC over the 2027 race for Senate President, with insiders alleging that Uzodimma’s Senate ambition is tied to a larger plan to succeed Senator Godswill Akpabio as leader of the Red Chamber.

Sources close to the matter claim that Uzodimma’s camp is considering the option of his resignation as governor should he win the Senate election and subsequently emerge Senate President at the inauguration of the next National Assembly.

However, the same sources allege that the governor may abandon the Senate seat and return to complete his tenure in Imo State if the Senate Presidency bid fails.

According to party insiders, these calculations were among the factors that pushed loyalists of Senate President Akpabio to back the controversial—but failed—amendment of Senate rules aimed at preventing senators-elect who were not members of the 10th Senate from contesting for principal offices in 2027.

The proposed amendment, which eventually collapsed amid opposition from within the APC and other stakeholders, was widely seen as a move targeting influential governors and former governors eyeing Senate leadership.

Confirming his intention to run for the Imo West Senate seat, Uzodimma posted a statement on his official X handle on Sunday, declaring that he had answered the call of his people to seek representation at the National Assembly.

“My dear people of Imo West Senatorial District have once again called upon me to serve, and I have accepted this noble call with utmost humility, sincerity of purpose, and unwavering commitment to the collective advancement of our people,” he wrote.

He disclosed that he had presented himself before the APC leadership and the screening committee for the National Assembly primary election.

“During the engagement, I reaffirmed that the Senatorial seat I seek to occupy belongs first and foremost to our great party, while I remain only a loyal and dedicated candidate entrusted with the responsibility of projecting and advancing the ideals, vision, and aspirations of the APC to the very best of my ability,” he stated.

Uzodimma added that his aspiration was inspired by the desire to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration through “quality representation, effective legislation, enhanced development, and sustainable progress.”

Notably, he made no reference in the statement to whether he intends to resign from office before the completion of his tenure if elected senator.

That silence continues to fuel debate within political circles in Imo State and beyond, especially amid growing speculation that the battle for the Senate Presidency in 2027 may trigger one of the fiercest power struggles within the APC since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts