West African media lawyers Petitions CCB over Imo governor’s senatorial ambition

The Association of West African Media Lawyers (WAMELA) has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate Imo state governor Hope Uzodimma’s reported ambition to contest for a Senate seat in 2027 while still serving as governor.

The association which engages in public-interest litigation and advocates constitutional governance, the rule of law and democratic accountability in the region made the demand in a petition dated October 20, 2026, and addressed to the CCB chairman.

It urged the bureau to determine whether the governor’s reported Senatorial ambition raises questions of abuse of office or conflict of interest under the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

WAMELA cited Paragraph 1 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which prohibits public officers from abusing their offices.

It also referenced constitutional provisions empowering the bureau to receive and investigate complaints of alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct and, where necessary, refer cases to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The head of WAMELA in Nigeria, Mr President Aigbokhan, said the association was not questioning the right of a sitting governor to aspire to another elective office but was concerned about the possible implications of pursuing a senatorial nomination while still in office.

“Our concern is not whether a sitting governor could aspire to another elective office, but whether he can pick a Senatorial nomination to pursue a senatorial seat in 2027 while his tenure remains subsisting till 2028 could create a conflict between personal political ambition and the constitutional responsibilities of the office,” he said.

Aigbokhan added that the oath of office taken by a governor upon assumption of duty was a binding constitutional undertaking rather than a ceremonial formality.

The association argued that the use, neglect or compromise of the powers, privileges, resources or responsibilities of the governorship to advance personal political interests could raise issues of abuse of office and conflict of interest that warrant investigation.