Ideato Councils Hold Special Plenary at Newly Built Umuchima Bridge, Endorse Uzodimma for 2027 Senate

By Everest Ezihe, Owerri

The Legislative Councils of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas of Imo State have jointly endorsed Governor Hope Uzodimma as their preferred All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West (Orlu Zone) Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement was made during an unprecedented joint plenary session of the two Legislative Councils held on Tuesday at the newly built Umuchima Bridge, a strategic infrastructure project in the Ideato area executed by the Uzodimma administration.

The lawmakers said their decision was informed by what they described as significant interventions by the Governor’s administration in road reconstruction, erosion control, security and other critical infrastructure across communities in Ideato.

The special plenary, which temporarily moved legislative proceedings from the Councils’ traditional chambers in Urualla and Dikenafai to the Umuchima Bridge, was described by the lawmakers as both “symbolic and historic.”

Moving the motion for the special plenary, the Councillor representing Dikenafai, Hon. Donatus Ebere, said the choice of the bridge as the venue was significant, considering the infrastructure challenges previously experienced in the area.

“Things do not just happen. We have found ourselves at the bridge in Umuchima, and that is what makes this a special plenary,” Ebere said while moving the motion to relocate the two Chambers to the site in honour of Governor Uzodimma.

The motion was unanimously supported by members of both Councils, who said the gathering was intended to recognise what they considered the Governor’s contributions to the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in Ideato.

The Leader of the Ideato South Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Hycenth Onyenekezi, subsequently announced the Council’s vote of confidence on the Governor and declared its support for his emergence as the consensus APC candidate for the senatorial position in 2027.

Onyenekezi also commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that of Governor Uzodimma over what he described as progress in infrastructure and security; saying the developments had further strengthened the APC’s position in the area.

“Ideato is strictly APC. We urge all other aspirants to step aside for our distinguished Senator Uzodimma,” he declared.

The endorsement received further backing from the Executive Chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas, Hon. Chukwunonso Okparaeke and Hon. Okechukwu Okwara, respectively, who described Governor Uzodimma as the best choice for the people of the area.

The Council Chairmen spoke during an inspection of ongoing road reconstruction works following the joint legislative session.

They commended the Governor for reconstructing what they described as a strategic economic road that had allegedly been abandoned and neglected for more than three years.

According to them, the reconstruction of the road was particularly important to the economic and social wellbeing of communities in the area, stressing that the Governor had demonstrated a willingness to translate promises into tangible projects.

The Chairmen’s remarks came against the backdrop of growing attention to infrastructure rehabilitation in Ideato, an area that has faced major challenges arising from poor road conditions and severe erosion.

In Ideato North, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Otuodi Ezeonuegbu, also praised Governor Uzodimma for interventions aimed at controlling devastating gully erosion in the local government area.

Ezeonuegbu described the intervention as a major relief to communities that had previously been threatened by extensive erosion and, in some locations, had become difficult to access.

“Before now, this place was a no-go area, but due to the prompt intervention of the Governor, we were able to recover it. By this time last year, there were so many gullies here,” he said.

He further warned that without the intervention, the continuing erosion would have posed an even greater threat to communities and infrastructure in the area.

“Without the intervention of the Governor, Ideato would have been flushed away by erosion,” Ezeonuegbu said, while praying for continued wisdom for the Governor in the administration of the state.

The joint action by the two Legislative Councils brought political endorsement and appreciation of infrastructure development together, with speakers repeatedly linking the Governor’s reported interventions to their decision to support his political ambition.

The newly built Umuchima Bridge, which served as the venue of the special plenary, provided a symbolic backdrop to the proceedings and underscored the Councils’ emphasis on infrastructure as a major component of their assessment of the Governor’s administration.

The development also highlights the political significance of Ideato North and Ideato South within Orlu Zone ahead of the 2027 general elections.

By adopting Uzodimma as their preferred APC candidate for the senatorial seat, the two Councils signalled their intention to consolidate support for the Governor within the area.

The Councils maintained that the combination of road reconstruction, erosion control and other interventions had contributed to renewed confidence among residents, while pledging continued support for initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic fortunes of the Ideato nation.