The political climate in Imo State has taken yet another disturbing turn as the government, through the Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IIRS), has issued what many describe as a politically motivated and malicious tax demand against Dr. Chima Matthew Amadi, a governorship hopeful who is described by his supporters as a beacon of hope for the Imo people
Amadi In a letter dated September 4, 2025, the IIRS accused Dr. Amadi of owing ₦17,186,396 (Seventeen Million, One Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Six Naira) in back taxes from 2019 to 2024. The timing and manner of this so-called “final demand notice” has raised eyebrows, with political observers pointing out that it reeks of desperation and calculated intimidation aimed at crippling his fast-rising political momentum.
Speaking with one of Amadi numerous supporters,name withheld,”for a man who has consistently demonstrated transparency, selfless service, and unwavering commitment to uplifting communities, spending over ₦100 million of his personal funds in the past year alone to settle medical bills, empower women, and support grassroots development, such allegations are seen by many as nothing short of an orchestrated witch-hunt”.
Analysts note that the letter conveniently emerges just as Dr. Amadi’s message of hope, accountability, and restoration of Imo State is gaining wide acceptance among ordinary citizens. The move is being interpreted as part of a broader strategy by political actors to discredit him and divert attention from their own failures in governance.
“It is laughable that a government that cannot account for the billions it has collected from federal allocations, and which has left our roads, schools, and hospitals in ruins, is suddenly eager to ‘enforce’ taxes against a man who has been personally shouldering the burdens they abandoned,” said a political commentator in Owerri.
The people of Imo are already responding with outrage, calling the demand a smear campaign designed to silence a voice that speaks for the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten. For them, this battle is no longer about Dr. Amadi alone, but about the collective struggle for justice, fairness, and good governance in the state.
Dr. Amadi, who has remained calm in the face of the provocation, is expected to address the matter in the coming days. Supporters insist that no amount of intimidation or blackmail will stop the movement he represents.
The unfolding drama is a clear reminder that the 2027 elections in Imo will be more than a contest for power. It will be a referendum between a people tired of oppression and leaders desperate to hold onto power at all costs.
