CAJETAN DUKE
In line with its constitution and preparations for the 2027 general elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State—under the dominant influence of Governor Hope Uzodimma—held its state congress on March 3, 2026, at Ndubuisi Kanu Square in Owerri. This mirrored similar exercises across the federation following the end of the 2022 executives’ tenures.
In most states, new executives were announced swiftly and comprehensively, igniting celebration, fresh energy, and clear leadership direction. Imo, however, remains a glaring outlier. Only two positions were publicly declared at the close of proceedings: Chief Austin Onyedebelu (former South East zonal Publicity Secretary and current ISOPADEC Managing Director) as State Chairman, and my friend, Hon. Onyekachi Ibezim (former Owerri Municipal LGA Party Chairman) as Secretary. Both emerged unopposed via a consensus “unity list.” The other 34 vital positions— including organizing secretary, legal adviser, publicity secretary, youth leader, women leader, treasurer, and zonal officers—remain undisclosed. No full roster, no zonal breakdown, and no official release timeline have been provided. This selective disclosure is not an administrative glitch; it is a deliberate tactic that undermines the fundamentals of internal party democracy.
Days after the event, party faithful—who endured the scorching sun without refreshments or logistical support from the party—continue to languish in uncertainty and rising frustration. In WhatsApp groups, community meetings, and private discussions, persistent questions ring out: Who claimed the vice chairmanship? Who leads my senatorial zone? Why suppress results that should have been transparent from the start? This engineered opacity not only erodes internal democracy but cultivates a perilous pattern that threatens the broader democratization process in Imo State.
The sidelining of key stakeholders— a former governor, ex-deputy governors, serving and former National Assembly members, and federal appointees—in critical selections underscores the authoritarian bent of the current APC leadership. Accounts from aggrieved members indicate the pre-congress stakeholders’ meeting at Government House lasted a mere 35 minutes under Governor Uzodimma’s watch: a brief address, unilateral directives, and an abrupt close without genuine debate or concessions. Far from broad consultation, it exposed a stark hierarchy where input is accepted only if it echoes the governor’s will.
This is no isolated lapse but a consistent blueprint of centralized control that subordinates party democracy to one-man decisions. Withholding most results does not preserve peace—it suffocates it. It stifles independent thought, rewards unquestioning loyalty, and ties progress to personal allegiance rather than merit or widespread endorsement.
The most severe risks loom ahead. If the leadership cannot promptly and openly release the complete congress outcome—even days later—what hope remains for fair, transparent primaries? Intending aspirants on the APC platform, especially those without a longstanding personal connection to the governor, must take urgent heed: make hay while the sun shines. The pattern signals an opaque process—hidden venues, unannounced schedules, abrupt notifications limited to an inner circle, and results predetermined in closed rooms long before delegates vote. Most aspirants face the danger of being blindsided, discovering too late that the race was rigged behind the scenes. Hesitation or waiting for “clearer signals” risks total exclusion in a setup that increasingly privileges only absolute loyalty and insider access.
The congress outcome makes it starkly evident that Governor Uzodimma has not only consolidated firm grip on the party machinery but has ingeniously personalized it into near-absolute ownership. The exercise signals that future primaries and candidacies may already be decided, signed, and sealed—merely awaiting formal delivery.
In essence, the Uzodimma-led Imo APC is eroding the core principles of democratic practice within its ranks—replacing openness with secrecy, merit with cronyism, and shared ownership with singular command. Yet, Imo people yearning for transparency, equity, accountability, and leadership that reflects collective aspirations will not submit to this stifling dominance. While APC refines its familiar tactics of misleading potential aspirants, Imolites will patiently await at the polling booths to deliver a resounding verdict on imposed candidates and the party’s one-man show.
Duke is the State Publicity Secretary of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Imo State.