Hope Uzodimma | |
---|---|
Governor of Imo State | |
Assumed office 15 January 2020 | |
Deputy |
|
Preceded by | Emeka Ihedioha |
Senator for Imo West | |
In office 6 June 2011 –9 June 2019 | |
Preceded by | Osita Izunaso |
Succeeded by | Rochas Okorocha |
Personal details | |
Born | Hope Odidika Uzodimma 12 December 1958 Omuma,Eastern Region,British Nigeria (now in Imo State,Nigeria) |
Political party | All Progressives Congress (2018–present) |
Other political affiliations |
|
Spouse | Chioma Uzodimma |
Residence | Owerri,Imo |
Alma mater | Federal University of Technology Owerri |
Occupation | Politician |
Hope Odidika Uzodimma (born 12 December 1958) is a Nigerian politician who has served as the governor of Imo State since 2020. [1] [2] [3] On 14 January 2020,the Supreme Court of Nigeria declared Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2019 governorship poll in Imo State,nullifying the election of the then-incumbent governor Emeka Ihedioha. [4]
Hope Uzodimma [5] was born on 12 December 1958 in Omuma to an Igbo Catholic family;his father Chief Michael Uzodimma held the chieftaincy title of Igwe of Ozuh Omuma and his mother was Ezinne Rose Uzodimma (née Nneoha). He is a kinsman of the Okoro family of Etiti-Omuma. [6] Uzodimma is a devout Catholic,and he is married to Chioma Uzodimma with seven children.
Uzodimma attended Mgbidi Secondary School in Omumu,Oru West,Imo State,Nigeria,for his secondary education.
He enrolled in college in 1978 and studied international studies there until 1982 when he received his bachelor’s degree. He had already earned an advanced diploma in transport studies before this.
Uzodinma graduated from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) with a master’s degree in human relations. He also graduated from the University of London with a degree in political science.
He holds a Diploma in Maritime Management Technology and a Higher Diploma in the same field from the Federal University of Technology Owerri. He also claimed to have a bachelor's degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from Washington University in St. Louis,but the university has denied these claims. [7] [8]
He has an Honorary Doctorate degree from Imo State University and a Fellow of the College of Agriculture,Umuagwo.,from the Federal University of Technology Owerri. Prior to his entry into politics,Uzodimma was a businessman with vast business interests. [9]
Uzodimma began his political career during the Second Nigerian Republic,joining the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN),where in 1983,he became the Imo State youth leader. In the 1990s,with the aborted transition to the Third Nigerian Republic,Uzodimma featured prominently as a member of the United Nigeria Congress Party.
In 1999,after the return to democracy,Uzodimma joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),where he served as a member of the party's National Caucus,National Executive Committee and on the Board of Trustees,at various times between 1999 and 2017. As a party boss in Imo State,Uzodimma was a close associate of the Governor Achike Udenwa until late 2002,when ahead of the April 2003 elections he decamped to the Alliance for Democracy (AD),becoming the party's candidate for the Imo State gubernatorial election. After losing the election to Udenwa,he returned to the PDP in February 2004. [10] He later contested the PDP governorship primaries in December 2006,coming in second to Senator Ifeanyi Araraume. [11] In 2011,after the incumbent Governor Ikedi Ohakim joined the PDP,Uzodimma endorsed him to run for a second term as Governor of Imo State, [12] favoring him over Rochas Okorocha who he later won.
In January 2011,Uzodimma won the PDP senatorial primary for the Imo West,gaining 2,147 votes,while the incumbent Senator Osita Izunaso came second with 891 votes. Uzodimma was later disqualified by a federal high court judgment as he had not been cleared by the PDP electoral panel led by Nwafor-Orizu. In March 2011,a court of appeal issued a stay of execution while the case was being decided,leaving Uzodimma free to campaign. On 5 April 2011 the Court of Appeal upheld the federal high court judgement,Uzodimma later appealed this decision at the Supreme Court. In the April 2011 elections,Uzodimma received 85,042 votes,ahead of former Governor Achike Udenwa of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with 64,228 votes and Rajis Okpalan Benedicta of the All Progressives Grand Alliance with 57,110 votes. In May 2011,the Supreme Court overturned the earlier decisions and declared that Uzodimma was the valid candidate and therefore had been elected.
On 6 June 2011,Uzodimma was sworn in as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,representing Imo West Senatorial District of Imo State. He was re-elected for a second term in the Senate during the 2015 election. In 2018,he left the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to contest for governor of Imo State in the 2019 gubernatorial elections.
In March 2019,the Independent National Electoral Commission sitting in Imo announced the governorship election results of Imo State:Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP who won with 273,404 votes,Uche Nwosu of Action Alliance with 190,364 votes,Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressives Grand Alliance with 114,676 votes;and Uzodimma in fourth place with 96,458 votes. Uzodimma later challenged the victory of Ihedioha up to the Supreme Court. [13] On 14 January 2020,the Supreme Court declared Uzodimma the duly elected Governor of Imo State. [14] [15] The court held that results from 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from votes ascribed to Uzodimma and the APC in Imo adding that the first appellant Uzodimma holds the majority of lawful votes cast. [16]
On 15 January 2020,he and Placid Njoku were sworn in as the Governor of Imo State and Deputy Governor of Imo State respectively. In his inaugural address,he ordered the states accountant general to provide a comprehensive financial status for the state from May 2010 to January 2020,he also ordered the permanent secretaries of all ministries in the state to forward the status of all contracts awarded,whilst halting the paying for all ongoing contracts. [17]
On 31 May 2023,Uzodimma emerged as chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum,the umbrella body of governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),replacing Abubakar Atiku Bagudu,the former governor of Kebbi State with the governor of Kaduna State,Uba Sani as the vice chairman. [18]
In the buildup to his re-election,Uzodinma on 13 August 2023,picked a new running mate,Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru for the 2023 Imo State governorship election. [19]
In September 2023,Uzodinma made claims to assist no fewer than 4,000 interested indigenes of Imo State relocation to Europe and Canada before the end of the year. Uzodinma gave this pledge at a campaign rally during one of his vote mobilizations tour ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the South Eastern State of Nigeria. [20]
In July 2023,a progress report from Data Phyte was released on how Uzodinma has been doing as governor of Imo State. The report indicated that there has been a revenue boost by the Uzodinma administration mainly due to the amendment of the Imo State Revenue Administration Law enacted by him in 2020. The report also ranks Imo State fourth place in terms of GDP per capita,just behind Lagos,Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states. [21]
He was given the 2017 Personal Life of the Most Outstanding Parliamentarian of the Year by the Nigerian News. In 2022,Governor Hope Uzodimma bagged a peace award from the United Nations for his efforts at promoting inter-ethnic harmony in Nigeria and good governance in the state.
He was nominated for the award by the United Towns Agency (UTA) for North-South Cooperation of the United Nations.
He also bagged The Sun 2021 Governor of the year Award.
Due to his sterling performance since his assumption of office as the governor of Imo State,South East Nigeria,Hope Uzodimma,bagged the prestigious honour of Most Prolific Governor of the Year 2023 by Face of Democracy Nigeria,FDN.
In May,2023,Gov. Uzodimma was conferred with the Grand Service Star of Rivers State (GSSRS) award in recognition for his contribution and commitment to national unity and eqiuty.
Governor Uzodimma also got honoured by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for his outstanding performance in promoting fiscal transparency in governance.
Governor Hope Uzodimma bagged UN peace awards. [22]
In May 2023,he conferred the National honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger by President Muhammadu Buhari. [23]
Uzodimma had the ceremonial title of Onwa-Netiri Oha of Omuma in Oru East local government of Imo State.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is a Nigerian political party formed in June 2002 and has governed the South eastern state of Anambra since 2003.
Colonel Tanko Zubairu was the Military Administrator of Imo State,Nigeria from August 1996 until May 1999,when he handed over to the elected civilian governor Achike Udenwa. During his tenure,he had to deal with violent protests over ritual killings. In 1997 he signed warrants for execution by firing squad of six men accused of this crime. Bob Njemanze,a member of the Njemanze ruling dynasty in Owerri,Imo State,described Zubairu's tenure as that of "a soldier in a hurry to nowhere and getting to nowhere".
Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume is a Nigerian politician who was appointed by the country's minister of Petroleum Resources,as the Chairman,board of management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited,in the wake of implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). He is the senator representing Imo North at the 9th Nigerian National Assembly. He was elected Senator for the Imo North (Okigwe) constituency of Imo State,Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic,running on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999. He was re-elected in April 2003. After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999,Ararume was appointed to committees on Communications,Police Affairs,Federal Character,Finance &Appropriation,Information and Niger Delta.
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha is a Nigerian politician of Igbo extraction,from Imo State. He is the senator representing Imo West senatorial district at the 9th Nigerian Senate. From 2011 to 2019 he served as Governor of Imo State.
Chukwuemeka Ihedioha;born 24 March 1965) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as governor of Imo State from 2019 to 2020. He was removed from office on 14 January 2020,by the Supreme Court of Nigeria which declared the APC candidate the authentic winner of the 2019 gubernatorial election. He was deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2011 to 2015.
Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo,popularly known as Kudirat Kekere-Ekun,is a Nigerian jurist and Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who has served as the Chief Justice of Nigeria since 22 August 2024. She was appointed Chief Justice following the retirement of Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Chris Okewulonu is a Nigerian barrister,politician and entrepreneur. He served as the Chief of Staff to Emeka Ihedioha as the Governor of Imo State from 3 June 2019 to 15 January 2020 He is a member of the People's Democratic Party.
Placid Njoku is a Nigerian professor and politician who served as the deputy governor of Imo State from 2020 to 2024. He assumed office alongside his running mate Hope Uzodimma by the verdict of the Supreme Court annulling the election of incumbent Emeka Ihedioha. Njoku earlier served as the first Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Abia State.
The governor of Imo State is an elective political position,one of the governors of the thirty-six states of Nigeria. The governor of Imo State is the chief executive officer of Imo state and its executive branch with the assistance of the deputy governor. Fourteen people have served as governor since Imo State was created in 1976:eight military governors,two military administrators and seven democratic governors. The current governor is Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress,in office since 15 January 2020.
The 2019 Enugu State gubernatorial election was held on 9 March 2019. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who won his party (PDP) primaries unopposed,got re-elected for office,Choosing Hon Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo as his deputy.
The 2019 Nigerian gubernatorial elections were held for state governors in 31 out of 36 Nigerian states. All but three were held on 2 March 2019 with the election for Rivers State being postponed until 4 April,while the Kogi State and Bayelsa State elections were both held on 16 November. The last regular gubernatorial elections for all states were in 2015.
The 2019 Imo State gubernatorial election in Nigeria occurred on 9 March 2019. PDP's Emeka Ihedioha polled 38.29% of the total votes,defeating AA's Uche Nwosu who got 26.66% of popular votes,and several minor party candidates. Out of 27 LGAs,Ihedioha won in 11,while Nwosu won in 10.
The 2015 Imo State gubernatorial election was the 8th gubernatorial election of Imo State. Held on April 11,2015,and April 25,2015,due to inconclusive,the All Progressives Congress nominee Rochas Okorocha won the election,defeating Emeka Ihedioha of the People's Democratic Party.
The 1979 Imo State gubernatorial election occurred on July 28,1979,in Nigeria. NPP's Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe won election for a first term to become Imo State's first executive governor leading and,defeating main opposition,NPN's Collins Obi,in the contest.
The 2023 Nigerian gubernatorial elections were held for state governors in 31 out of 36 Nigerian states. All but three elections were held on 18 March—concurrent with elections to every state house of assembly,three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections—while the Imo State,Kogi State,and Bayelsa State elections will be held on 11 November. The last regular gubernatorial elections for all states were in 2019. All states have a two term limit for Governors which makes 18 incumbent governors ineligible for re-election.
The 2023 Enugu State gubernatorial election took place on 18th March 2023,to elect the Governor of Enugu State,with Peter Mbah declared winner alongside his running mate Barrister Ifeanyi Ossai of the Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria),after they got the plurality of votes and won over 25% of the votes in two-third of the state. Mr Mbah polled 160,895 votes to defeat his closest competitor,the Labour Party (Nigeria) candidate,Chijioke Edeoga,who scored 157,552 votes. The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),Frank Nweke Jr,garnered 17,983 votes to come a distant third,while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Uche Nnaji,came fourth position,with 14,575 votes. The election was contested in the Tribunal by Chijoike Edeoga but the tribunal eventually upheld the victory of Peter Mbah.
The 2023 Imo State gubernatorial election was held on 11 November 2023 due to the belated inauguration of incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma,to elect the Governor of Imo State. Incumbent APC Governor Hope Uzodinma was re-elected,with him winning all the 27 local government areas. LP candidate Athan Achonu has filed a lawsuit against Uzodinma claiming that the election was "marred by irregularities,including vote buying and physical assaults of LP agents,and thus deserving of outright cancellation".
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Imo State will be held on 25 February 2023,to elect the 3 federal Senators from Imo State,one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election,as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives;with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
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