By Ikenna Orioha
As 2027 poll draws near, politics is heating up in Imo State. Recently, a political brouhaha was allegedly witnessed in the APC camp as an attempt by Hon. Eric Uwakwe to remove Prince Francis Uzor as the State Coordinator of City Boy Movement (CBM) was foiled.
According to some persons who claimed to be insiders, the failure was due to the quick intervention of Governor Hope Uzodimma, Bar. Seyi Tinubu, Cubana Chief Priest, among others.
The group who did not want their names in print, said that the alleged move was cooked by Hon. Eric Uwakwe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs.
The group claimed that Uwakwe sought to replace Prince Francis Uzor by presenting himself to the National Leadership of City Boy Movement as the duly endorsed choice of the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
The group further alleged that the plan involved invoking the Governor’s name as having directed the leadership change and observed that it was a strategic effort to lend credibility to the claim and that the Governor’s daughter was reportedly persuaded to accompany Uwakwe to the National Office of CBM.
The group added that the SA created the impression that the change had the full backing of the state government.
Acting on what they believed to be an authentic directive from the Governor, the National Leadership of City Boy Movement allegedly issued an appointment letter recognizing Uwakwe as the new Imo State Coordinator.
The development reportedly caused confusion among members in the state chapter, with parallel claims of leadership briefly emerging.
“The situation took a dramatic turn following the intervention of Barr. Seyi Tinubu and Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest)”, it said.
It hinted that both individuals reached out directly to Governor Hope Uzodimma to verify whether he had indeed authorized the change in leadership.
“Upon clarification from the Governor that no such directive was issued”, the group added, “the National Leadership of the Movement reportedly reviewed the circumstances surrounding the appointment as it discovered that the purported authorization from the Governor was not genuine”.
Hence “the alleged appointment letter earlier issued to Uwakwe was withdrawn with a formal letter of withdrawal being served him with immediate effect – nullifying his recognition as State Coordinator and restoring Prince Francis Uzor to his position”.
To this effect, political pundits in the state described the “Failed Coup by Uwakwe”, as an embarrassment, regretting that the use of the Governor’s name without verified authorization raised serious concerns about internal communication, due process and political integrity.
They warned that such incident, if not properly addressed, could erode trust within political movements and create unnecessary tension within the ruling structure.
However, Uwakwe nor the Imo State Government had not issued any official public statement detailing their positions on the matter.
Also, CBM National Leadership is yet to release a formal statement beyond the reported withdrawal of the appointment.
