There are reports that, following intrigues and behind-the-scenes political calculations within the inner circle of the Hope Uzodinma administration, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, is under serious pressure to resign from office, but has reportedly refused to do so.
A source who pleaded anonymity alleged that there had been several attempts to give her the “ jude Agbaso treatment” by encouraging her to award certain contracts through which she could allegedly be trapped, indicted and eventually forced out of office. The source, however, claimed that the Deputy Governor tactfully avoided the alleged traps.
According to the source, “ The prominent Owerri leader, who nominated her for the position and would have pressured to resign , is late. Her pillar of support now is her husband, Chukwuma Ekomaru, a renowned politician, legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who has also resisted efforts to frustrate his wife out of office before the end of her tenure.”
The source said the developmentwas causing tension within the top echelon of the Uzodinma administration.
“While Uzodinma is battling former Governor Rochas Okorocha over the APC senatorial ticket for Orlu Zone, he is also concerned about his political future. Assuming he clinches the senatorial ticket and wins the election, there could be a leadership vacuum in the state because he would be sworn in as a senator in June 2027, while the next Governor of Imo State is expected to assume office on January 15, 2028, creating a gap of about seven months,” the source alleged.
The source further claimed that this was behind an alleged plot to pressure the Deputy Governor to resign so that she could be replaced by a person from Orlu Zone who would be trusted to complete the administration’s tenure.
“With this development, any attempt to force the Deputy Governor to resign before the end of her tenure will definitely elicit tension,” the source added.
As the political calculations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, keen observers of the political landscape are watching to see how the situation unfolds and whether the reported pressure on the Deputy Governor will lead to any change in the political leadership of the state.
