Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is unfazed by opposition leaders’ attempts to form a coalition for the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, he stressed that the APC remains vigilant and will not allow any coalition to seize power.
“What is a coalition? We are practising partisan democracy, not coalition democracy,” he said. “Partisan democracy requires belonging to a political party to contest elections. When your party is no longer viable and you seek political oxygen, you must first leave the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before discussing alliances.”
Uzodinma added, “I began by stating that you don’t change a winning team. We have seen where we were, where we are now, and where we are headed. Ultimately, Nigerians will decide our fate but that decision is years away. As a government, we still have over two years remaining in our term.”
He warned against election distractions. “If you focus on winning the next election when Nigerians entrusted you with a four-year mandate and you’ve barely completed two years, that becomes a distraction,” he said. “This government remains focused. The APC is alert, and we won’t let anyone take what is in our hands. We are not asleep.”
Uzodinma described the APC as a winning team. “When a player is winning, they keep playing,” he said.
“While we welcome new ideas and collaboration, since no one, not even the president, can solve national problems alone, it is through unity that Nigeria grows safer and stronger.” He noted, “From 2020 to 2025, 79% of my former opponents in Imo have joined the APC. A party is nothing without its people, and today, the majority in Imo are APC members.”
On the Rivers State crisis, Uzodinma supported the emergency rule to protect economic assets. “When pipelines were bombed, we had to prioritise safeguarding production,” he said. “As chairman of the National Economic Council’s subcommittee on crude oil theft, our efforts have been on how to boost output and any actions threatening our quotas must be condemned.”
He praised the president’s intervention. “The president, as Chief Security Officer, acted to quell tensions in Rivers,” he said. “Had the House of Assembly impeached Governor Fubara, it would set a dangerous precedent. It may be him today, another tomorrow. As a Christian, I believe leadership is divine. It is God who ordains.”