By: Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke.
@Owerri
The road to the 2027 elections is gradually taking a more organised shape in Okigwe Zone, as Distinguished Senator Patrick C. Ndubueze, FNSE, representing Imo North Senatorial District, brought together key All Progressives Congress stakeholders for a strategic engagement focused on unity, coordination and the collective success of the party.
The meeting, held at Rockview Hotel, Owerri, provided an important platform for political leaders, elected representatives, government appointees and party stakeholders to deliberate on the future of the APC in the zone.
At the heart of the gathering was a renewed commitment to the political leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, alongside a collective determination to secure victory for APC candidates across Okigwe Zone. Senator Ndubueze emphasised that political strength is best demonstrated through cohesion, constructive engagement and the ability of party leaders to work together towards clearly defined objectives.
The gathering attracted an impressive cross-section of political leadership from the six Local Government Areas that make up Imo North. Among those present were the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe; former Speaker Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim; Hon. Ozoemelam Bernard Ndubuisi; Hon. Chidi Samuel Ogbunikpa; Commissioner Jerry Egemba; Commissioner Chief Mrs. Rubby Emele; Dr. Ifeanyi Agwu of the South East Development Commission; APC Zone Leader Hon. Dan Ogu; Senator Ndubueze’s Director-General, Hon. Greg Owuamanam; and Hon. Chief Ethelbert Nwachukwu.
The political gathering further demonstrated the broad network supporting the APC’s electoral structure in the zone, with the presence of Dr. Ezechukwu Ezechi, Hon. Bright Nwelue, Hon. Uche Agasu, Hon. High Chief Charles Ijezie, Prince Humphrey Onyemuche Okeke, Hon. Dr. Emeka Obi, Hon. Evangelist Chika Okoroike and other party leaders and stakeholders.
In his interaction with the gathering, Senator Ndubueze expressed appreciation to the political class in Okigwe Zone for maintaining a constructive relationship with Governor Hope Uzodimma. He argued that the cooperation between the zone and the Governor has helped create an environment in which development initiatives and political interests can receive greater attention.
The Senator particularly acknowledged Governor Uzodimma’s support for initiatives affecting Imo North, describing the Governor’s relationship with Okigwe Zone as one built around mutual political understanding and development. He maintained that maintaining such a relationship is in the collective interest of the people, especially when the objective is to attract projects and opportunities from the State and Federal levels.
Beyond politics, Senator Ndubueze used the occasion to place his legislative record before the stakeholders. He highlighted his interventions at the National Assembly, his sponsorship and support for legislative measures and his efforts to attract federal development projects into the six Local Government Areas of Imo North.
He also referenced his intervention in the automobile sector and his engagement with local manufacturing interests, noting the recognition subsequently received from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing. For the Senator, such recognition represents an affirmation of the importance of legislation that promotes Nigerian enterprise, local production and economic development.
Ndubueze described his first term as a period of substantial legislative and constituency activity, maintaining that his objective has been to ensure that Imo North receives visibility and attention within the National Assembly. He further cited the ranking of the zone among the more active senatorial districts as an indication of the level of legislative participation being recorded.
The Senator also addressed the contentious political issues surrounding the forthcoming election, including the legal proceedings involving his candidacy and the APC. While acknowledging that the litigation had affected the pace of some political activities, he expressed confidence in the strength of his case and the eventual outcome of the judicial process.
Rather than allowing the legal dispute to completely derail his engagement with constituents, Senator Ndubueze disclosed plans for a more extensive community-to-community interaction across Imo North. He indicated that the exercise would focus on presenting documented evidence of projects facilitated through his office and allowing constituents to assess the impact for themselves.
This approach, he explained, is intended to shift political conversations from speculation to verifiable records. Communities, according to the Senator, should be able to see the projects associated with their representation, understand their status and independently evaluate the contribution of their elected representatives.
Infrastructure also featured prominently in the Senator’s engagement with the stakeholders. He acknowledged the concerns surrounding delayed road projects and explained that some interventions had been affected by funding and payment challenges involving contractors. Nevertheless, he assured the gathering that the major projects being pursued for the zone remain priorities.
Of particular importance was the Okigwe regional electricity project, which remains one of the most significant infrastructure interventions associated with the Senator’s representation. Ndubueze disclosed plans for the capacity upgrade of the 63MVA MOBITRA to 126MVA, with the upgraded facility expected to be handed over by February 2027, subject to the completion of the ongoing processes.
The significance of the electricity project extends beyond Okigwe town itself. Reliable electricity has implications for businesses, artisans, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, industries and household welfare across the Senatorial District. Its successful completion would therefore represent a major step in addressing one of the zone’s longstanding infrastructure challenges.
The meeting equally brought forward the expectations of party stakeholders. Commissioner Rubby Emele commended Senator Ndubueze’s legislative performance and urged continued cooperation among APC leaders. She also encouraged Hon. Uche Agasu to work closely with the Senator and other stakeholders in pursuit of victory for the party.
Former Speaker Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim similarly acknowledged the Senator’s efforts in attracting development projects to Okigwe Zone. While recognising the progress already recorded, he stressed the need for further expansion of development interventions so that more communities across the Senatorial District can benefit.
APC leader in Okigwe Zone, Hon. Dan Ogu, also commended Senator Ndubueze, noting that his record provides the party with tangible issues upon which it can engage the electorate. He nevertheless challenged the Senator to strengthen his empowerment initiatives in response to the economic difficulties confronting many families.
The intervention from the APC leadership highlights an important dimension of political representation: development must combine long-term infrastructure with immediate measures capable of supporting vulnerable households. Roads, electricity, education and institutional projects remain essential, but economic empowerment can also provide immediate support to families and small businesses.
The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, expressed his goodwill towards Senator Ndubueze and prayed for continued success in his representation of Imo North. His remarks further reflected the importance of cooperation between the National Assembly and the State political leadership in advancing the interests of the zone.
The gathering ultimately moved beyond speeches into a formal political resolution. Dr. Ifeanyi Agwu moved the motion reaffirming the commitment of APC stakeholders in Okigwe Zone to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the success of APC candidates in the forthcoming elections. The motion was seconded by former Speaker Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim and adopted by the gathering.
The resolution effectively placed unity and collective mobilisation at the centre of the APC’s political strategy in Okigwe Zone. It also demonstrated that the party’s leadership structure is positioning itself for an election that will require coordination across wards, Local Government Areas and the various layers of political organisation.
For Senator Ndubueze, the meeting provided an opportunity to reinforce his message of continuity, performance and collective responsibility. His appeal to stakeholders was essentially that political differences should not overshadow the broader interests of Okigwe Zone and that party leaders should work together where their objectives converge.
The significance of the gathering therefore extends beyond the immediate political declarations. It represents an attempt to build a coordinated political structure capable of translating the APC’s presence in Okigwe Zone into electoral strength while simultaneously presenting the development record of its representatives to the electorate.
As the 2027 political season approaches, the APC in Okigwe Zone will increasingly be judged not only by its campaign machinery but also by the quality of its internal cooperation and the credibility of the issues it presents to voters. Senator Ndubueze’s stakeholder engagement has consequently opened another chapter in that process.
With the reaffirmation of support for President Tinubu, Governor Uzodimma and APC candidates, the meeting ended on a note of political solidarity. The message from the gathering was unmistakable: the APC leadership in Okigwe Zone intends to approach the 2027 elections as a coordinated political family, with development, continuity and electoral victory occupying the centre of its agenda.
