Hope Uzodinma under pressure to forgo senatorial ambition, as deputy is forced to resign

 

The reported senatorial ambition of Hope Uzodimma has allegedly created tension within the All Progressives Congress amid concerns that he may be attempting to hold multiple influential political positions at the same time.

According to a report by The Nation, the controversy surrounding Uzodimma’s alleged Senate ambition was said to have contributed to an unsuccessful move to remove him as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) on Thursday.

A highly placed source reportedly claimed that some governors within the APC believed Uzodimma was expanding his political influence excessively. The source noted that he currently serves as Governor of Imo State, Chairman of the PGF, and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, while also allegedly planning to contest for a Senate seat with the long-term goal of emerging as President of the 11th Senate.

The report stated that several governors were unhappy with the development but eventually chose not to proceed with efforts to remove him after reportedly deferring to President Bola Tinubu.

It was further gathered that pressure had mounted on the APC leadership to persuade Uzodimma to decide between remaining governor and pursuing his senatorial ambition.

One source alleged that Uzodimma intended to secure a Senate seat before resigning as governor. According to the claim, intelligence reports suggested that the Deputy Governor of Imo State had allegedly been pressured to resign, with the resignation letter reportedly being withheld until after the National Assembly elections.

The source also alleged that Uzodimma planned to install a loyal ally as governor and appoint a relative as deputy governor after moving to the Senate.

Another claim suggested that the plan had been discussed for nearly a year and was allegedly conceived in London with the involvement of a former governor who is now a senator.

The report further alleged that Godswill Akpabio became uncomfortable with Uzodimma’s reported ambition to become Senate President, leading to attempts to amend Senate rules.