Imo state, Owerri – For the good people of Imo State, January 14 and 15, 2019 will be remembered as the days the Supreme Court declared Hope Uzodimma, the duly elected governor of the state, and the day he was sworn in respectively.
Aside from being Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, is a family man and husband to Imo first lady, Chinyere.
Brief facts about Imo Governor, Hope Uzodimma
After a long battle with his predecessor, Uzodimma challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal which upheld the election of Emeka Ihedioha.
Apart from Uzodimma’s battle with Ihedioha, only a few Nigerians know anything about the Imo-born politician.
These are a few things you need to know about the governor who is in the race to seek a second term opportunity to serve the good people of Imo state, under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
With elections very close, he has promised that if re-elected, he will ensure that by December 2023, four thousand Imo youths will secure employment in Europe.
Find out more about Uzodimma below:
1. Hope Uzodinma is a former PDP chieftain
Hope Uzodinma is a Nigerian politician who was elected Senator for the Orlu (Imo West) constituency of Imo State, Nigeria, in the April 2011 federal elections. He ran on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
2. Hope Uzodimma’s wife is the youngest First lady in Nigeria
The wife of the Imo state governor is the youngest first lady of Nigeria.
Photo credit: Hope UzodimmaSource: Facebook
Uzodinma’s second wife, Chioma, is the First Lady of Imo State.
Chioma Uzodimma nee Ikeaka, a law graduate from Imo State University, is termed the youngest first lady in the history of Nigeria.
Referred to as H.E. Barr. Chioma D Uzodimma is Governor Uzodinma’s wife from his second marriage in 2015.
3. Crisis rocked Uzodinma’s election
His election was challenged because he was not a valid PDP candidate, but on May 5, 2011, the Supreme Court declared that his election was valid.
4. Uzodimma is a successful businessman
A report in 2001 disclosed that Chief Uzodimma had a business empire spread across the country. This is revealed in his leadership style in Imo state.
5. Uzodinma, the current Imo state governor is a titled chief
Governor Uzodimma had the ceremonial title of Onwa-Netiri Oha of Omuma in the Orlu local government of Imo State.
The Governor was honoured with the prestigious chieftaincy title of “Enyioma Mbaise” (Good friend of Mbaise Nation) by ranking traditional rulers from the area in appreciation of his good relationship with the people of Mbaise, in 2022.
6. He dumped PDP for APC
He ran for Governor in the April 2003 elections and decamped to the Alliance for Democracy (AD), becoming their candidate for the Imo State gubernatorial election. He was unsuccessful, and in February 2004 was readmitted to the PDP.
7. He contested for governor in 2006
Uzodinma was a competitor in the PDP primaries for Imo State Governor in December 2006, coming a close second to Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
8. A former PDP BoT member
Uzodinma was appointed a member of the PDP Board of Trustees. He was among those who endorsed the bid by Ikedi Ohakim to run again for Imo Governor in 2011 after Ohakim had returned to the PDP.
9. Uzodimma is chairman of the APC’s Governors Forum
Hope Uzodinma was elected as chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), a body of all governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria.
Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna state, is deputy chairman of the forum.
Imo 2023 Guber: Election threatened as peace talk ends in disarray
In another report, the build-up to the Imo state gubernatorial polls is proving to be heated and might lead to an imminent postponement.
There are disparities and reservations about the state electoral umpire from the opposition’s end.
Things got worse as the peace accord meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ended in disarray.
Okorocha, Ihedioha, and other governors of Imo since 1999
AmbaJay earlier reported that Hope Uzodinma, the incumbent governor, will complete his first term in office in January 2024.
Uzodinnma is seeking re-election for another term in office.
