2027: South-East Stakeholders Back Agbaso For Imo Governorship

South-East leaders and stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have endorsed Chief Martin Agbaso for the 2027 Imo State governorship election, calling for the return of the governorship to Owerri Zone.

At the South-East Leaders and Stakeholders’ Forum yesterday, the group said the move was aimed at ensuring equity, inclusive governance and development in Imo State.

Chairman of the group and retired Director of Police Service Commission, Nze Emmanuel Ibe said the event was organised to formally endorse Agbaso for the 2027 governorship election in Abuja.

Ibe said the objective of the gathering was to be “purposeful and intentional” about the 2027 governorship election and mobilise support for Agbaso, whom he described as the rightful beneficiary of a mandate allegedly denied him in the 2007 election.

According to him, the people of Imo State voted for Agbaso in the 2007 governorship election, but the result was subsequently cancelled following allegations of violence in some areas.

He, however, questioned why the governorship election result was cancelled while the House of Assembly election conducted on the same day and by the same electorate was upheld.

“That was injustice, particularly for the people of Owerri Zone,” Ibe said, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the 2007 election remained a significant issue for stakeholders in the state.

He noted that since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, Owerri Zone had not had a sustained opportunity to produce the governor of Imo State, except for the brief tenure of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, whose administration was truncated.

“And that is why they are beckoning on this man who was denied his mandate way back in 2007 to come forward and take up this mandate,” Ibe said, adding that the stakeholders hoped Agbaso would accept what they regarded as the people’s mandate.

Responding to the endorsement, Agbaso, a businessman and financial analyst thsaid he had thought he was done with politics but was persuaded to reconsider his decision after a series of developments that convinced him that his political journey was not yet over.

Agbaso said he initially had no idea that the event would attract such attention, adding that the goodwill expressed by those present nearly moved him to tears.

“If I knew, if I had any inclination that it was going to be something of this magnitude, I probably would have invited my friends also,” he said.

He attributed his decision to return to politics to divine intervention, saying God had been “merciful” and “extremely generous” to him and his family.

According to him, he had reached a point where he was comfortable with his business interests and had no immediate desire to return to politics.

“So I was done with politics. I was finished with it,” Agbaso said, adding that he had been repeatedly asked whether he would return to political office but remained content with his professional and private life.

He also recalled his early political career, saying he first contested for the Senate at the age of 32. According to him, his age was considered a major disadvantage at the time, with some people advising him to contest for councillorship or a seat in the State House of Assembly.

“You are too young for Senate,” he recalled being told.

Agbaso said he was initially frustrated by the perception that he was too young for higher political office but had come to understand the concerns that accompanied his age at the time.

He said his academic and professional achievements had since strengthened his experience, noting that he had undergone extensive training and established himself internationally as a financial analyst.

Agbaso further attributed his renewed political engagement to what he described as the hand of God, insisting that his return was not merely a personal decision but part of a larger purpose.

“I have not changed, I have not done anything to change. It is the power of the Holy Ghost,” he said.

Also speaking, a former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Nnaemeka Maduawo, backed Agbaso’s aspiration, calling on the people of the South-East to support credible leadership capable of delivering development, security and good governance.

Maduawo said the decision by Igbo elders and leaders in the FCT to engage in the political affairs of their states of origin was necessary to help reposition the region.

According to him, the South-East must begin to “get it right” by identifying and supporting competent individuals capable of providing effective leadership.

“It is important that the South-East gets it right. It is important that the South-East is reorganised. It is important that development starts to flow into the South-East. It is important that we have security,” Maduawo said.

He specifically described Agbaso as a patriotic and experienced individual with the capacity to provide the leadership required in Imo State.

Maduawo said Agbaso’s international education and professional experience had exposed him to ideas and practices that could be applied to the development of Imo State, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, education and human capital development.

He also called for the correction of what he described as the injustice surrounding the 2007 governorship election, arguing that Agbaso’s continued availability and greater experience made his return to the political arena significant.

“That injustice of 2007 has to be corrected,” Maduawo said, adding that Agbaso had acquired more experience since the disputed election.

He urged Imo people to support the aspiration, saying, “A mandate delayed is not a mandate denied.”