Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has described the outcome of the 2023 general elections in the South East as a “wrong political calculation,” saying it was a “political accident” that would not repeat itself in 2027.
He made the remarks on Tuesday while hosting leaders of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, at the Government House in Owerri.
The meeting, held ahead of the party’s primaries, focused on strengthening unity within the APC in the South East and building support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Uzodimma told party leaders that the region must close ranks and work together politically if it hopes to increase its influence at the national level.
“We made a wrong political calculation in 2023 in the South East. What happened was a political accident that will not repeat itself,” he said.
He urged APC members to put aside internal differences and focus on unity, stressing that cohesion within the party was key to future success.
“Our job is to be our brother’s keeper. We must unite, regardless of disagreements,” he added.
The governor also stressed the importance of the South East aligning more closely with the ruling party at the centre, saying it would ensure better representation and access to federal opportunities.
He expressed confidence that the APC would perform strongly in the region in 2027, adding that efforts were ongoing to stabilise the party structure and strengthen grassroots support.
“President Bola Tinubu will win convincingly in the South East, and we will be part of that victory,” Uzodimma said.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu said the APC was positioned to take over leadership in Abia State, criticising the performance of the current administration.
He argued that governance in the state had not met expectations and called for what he described as “a breath of fresh air.”
Kalu also praised Governor Uzodimma’s leadership in Imo State, comparing governance delivery across both states.
“With similar resources, you can see the difference in performance. Governance should be about results, not noise,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the APC would make significant gains in Abia and across the South East in the 2027 elections.
The meeting ended with renewed commitments from APC stakeholders in the region to strengthen party unity, improve coordination, and mobilise support ahead of the next general elections.
