From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Imo Harmony Project (IHP), a non-partisan organisation of eminent sons and daughters advocating for the election of a governor of Imo State of Owerri senatorial zone extaction in 2027 has rejected the purported adoption of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) as the sole platform through which the desire of the zone could be achieved.
The group said that it would amount to a betrayal if the the organisation were to yield to an arrangement that seeks to circumscribe the legitimate aspirations of Owerri sons and daughters outside the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It also said that while it respected the right of the members of the All Progressives Congress in Owerri Zone United to pursue the legitimate aspirations of its members, that IHP finds the use of Owerri Zone United as a vehicle to prosecute this clearly partisan agenda unacceptable.
In statement jointly signed by Arc Amugo Ugorji,Chief Soronnadi Njoku (SAN), Mr Nick Opara – Ndudu and Engr Charles Onu of the central planning Coordinators of Imo Harmony Project.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a Press release issued by Owerri Zone United, purporting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been adopted as the sole political platform for the realisation of the Owerri Governorship Project and that Owerri Zone United would support whoever is put forward by His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
“Since the Imo Harmony Project (IHP) was one of the affiliate groups involved in the formation of Owerri Zone United, we deem it necessary to clarify and state that the philosophy behind the formation of IHP was rooted in the need to establish a non-partisan platform that would serve as the umbrella organisation for Owerri zone indigenes in all political parties as well as professionals in the pursuit of the goal of actualising the Owerri governorship project. To that extent, therefore, IHP drew its membership from all political parties and professionals and was deliberately not aligned to any political party, tendency, or persuasion; Cognisant of the need to maintain its neutrality, IHP operations and activities were funded through donations from its members drawn from all political parties as well as nonpartisans.
Continuing ,”When the idea of consolidating the activities of different organisations pursuing the Owerri
governorship project was mooted, it was made clear that IHP’s involvement was that of a major affiliate organisation that has been in the forefront in the advocacy for an Imo govemor of Oweri zone extraction, with a clear, unambiguous understanding that Owerri Zone United would maintain an independent, non-partisan position not aligned to any political party; This position was duly communicated to the IHP membership worldwide and ratified as the basis for IHP’s engagement in the activities of Owerri Zone United and its affiliation thereto.”
Adding, “Over the past 18 months plus that IHP has been in existence, the organisation has won the confidence and unalloyed support of a wide cross section of political and business leaders from Owerri Zone and it would amount to a betrayal of the trust reposed in lHP if the organisation were to now yield to an arrangement that seeks to circumscribe or, indeed, diminish the legitimate aspirations of Owerri sons and daughters outside the All Progressives Congress (APC). While we respect the right of the members of the All Progressives Congress in Owerri Zone United to pursue the legitimate aspirations of its members, we find the use of Owerri Zone United as a vehicle to prosecute this clearly partisan agenda unacceptable. The IHP foundational philosophy and modus operandi was to engage all political parties and stakeholders while actively canvassing the emergence of Owerri zone indigenes as governorship candidates of various political parties. It would, therefore, be unconscionable and patently unfair for IHP to be part of any arrangement that places the legitimate political aspirations of indigenes of Owerri zone outside APC in manifest jeopardy.
“We, therefore, reject, in its entirety, the resolution reached at the October 18, 2026 meeting, held at the residence of Chief Charls Amadi (Charvon), and reassure the teeming membership and supporters of IHP worldwide of the organisation’s unflinching commitment to its foundational principles and philosophy. In reaching this position, IHP would like to reiterate that we respect the right of all Indigenes of Owerri zone to aspire to the governorship of our dear state, regardless of their political affiliation, and would not be part of any scheme or arrangement that seeks to foreclose the legitimate aspiration of any indigene of the zone under any platform of their choice.
“Finally, we would like to place on record IHP’s appreciation of the support of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, for the noble tenets of the Imo Charter of Equity and the emergence of an Imo governor of Owerri zone extraction. We urge him to remain unwavering in his commitment to this noble goal. That said, we know that, as a democrat, he appreciates and equally respects the right of other political parties to aspire for the governorship of Imo State”.
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