Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has reportedly expressed his frustration towards Speaker Tajudeen Abbas of the House of Representatives. This discontent stems from Abbas' decision to promote Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by appointing him as the chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream). Uzodinma, who is seeking re-election, views this appointment as a move that elevates an opposition politician and potentially threatens his own political standing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Sources indicate that Governor Uzodinma is concerned that Ugochinyere's leadership of this important House committee has bolstered the opposition's profile and influence. This perceived empowerment of an opposition figure, particularly someone of Ugochinyere's political stature, is seen by the governor as potentially detrimental to his bid for re-election.

Efforts to convince Speaker Abbas to reverse this appointment have reportedly been unsuccessful, and it is anticipated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will step in to mediate the dispute upon his return from an overseas trip.

One of the sources who craved anonymity said, “The governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, are in for a serious fight, which has been brought to the attention of the Presidency. The governor is unhappy that Mr. Speaker appointed a cantankerous politician from his state, Ugochinyere, as chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream).

“To the governor, this is not a wise decision to take by the Speaker. How can an astute opposition element in Imo State like Ikenga be given such a strategic appointment in the House? This is an election period, and the House is patronizing the opposition politicians from the state so that they can have the impetus and resources to fight us.

“This is the same Ikenga who has been rubbishing the governor and saying all kinds of nonsense about our party, APC, and he is the same person they are patronizing with this juicy job by a top-ranking official of APC's government. This is unfair and insensitive. How do we grow a party this way?

“They are giving positions meant for APC members to the opposition lawmakers. To worsen the situation, the person Mr. Speaker is patronizing in Imo state has now been appointed as DG of the governorship election campaign council of the main opposition party, PDP.”

“The governor has been appealing to the Speaker to withdraw the appointment of Imo Ugochinyere as chairman of the petroleum committee since it was made public on July 27, but he called the governor’s bluff. How can Mr. Speaker humiliate the chairman of PGF this way?

“This situation has compelled the governor to bring this development to the attention of Mr. President. We expected the President to call the Speaker to order when he returned from his foreign trip. Ugochinyere must be removed, and his ego must be deflated. Continuous patronage of the opposition elements by our leaders at the national level is an attempt to kill the party,” another source in Uzodinma’s government said.