2023 Imo State gubernatorial election
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".
Electoral system
The Governor of Imo State is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of state local government areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.Primary elections
The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, will take place between 27 March and 17 April 2022.All Progressives Congress
Cleared by screening committee
- Hope Uzodinma: Governor and former Senator for Imo West
Declined
- Ifeanyi Ararume: former Senator for Imo North
- Jude Ejiogu: former Secretary to Imo State Government and [2019 Imo State gubernatorial election|2019 All Progressives Congress|APC gubernatorial candidate]
- David Mbamara: entrepreneur
- Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba: former Minister of State for Education and former House of Representatives member for Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo
- Uche Nwosu: 2019 APC gubernatorial candidate and AA gubernatorial nominee, Governor Okorocha administration official, and son-in-law of former Governor Okorocha
Labour Party
Purchased forms
- Athan Achonu: former Senator for Imo North
- Martin Agbaso: former Senator for Imo East
- Charles Agomuo
- Chinedu Amadi: businessman
- Humphrey Anumudu†: businessman
- Tochi Ehirim
- Ike Ibe: former House of Assembly member for Obowo West and former Speaker of the House of Assembly
- C. Ishiguzo
- Basil Maduka: businessman
- David Mbamara
- Kelechi Nwagwu: former House of Assembly member and former Speaker of the House of Assembly
- Lincoln Ogunewe: former Army major general
- Joseph Ukaegbu
People's Democratic Party
In late 2022 and early 2023, reporting revealed an intense internal battle within the Imo PDP over the gubernatorial ticket between the state party's two most influential figures: former Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former Governor Emeka Ihedioha. Anyanwu and Ihedioha had competed for the 2019 nomination and struggled for control of the state party during the 2022 legislative primaries. In January 2023, observers noted PDP concern that the Anyanwu-Ihedioha feud could hurt the party ahead of elections in both February and October.Cleared by screening committee
- Samuel Anyanwu: PDP National Secretary, former Senator for Imo East, and 2019 PDP gubernatorial candidate
Withdrew
- Emeka Ihedioha: former Governor and former House of Representatives member for Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala
Declined
- Jerry Alagbaoso: House of Representatives member for Oru East/Orsu/Orlu
Conduct
Electoral timetable
On 25 October 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission released the timetable, setting out key dates and deadlines for the election.- 14 November 2022 – Publication of Notice of Election
- 27 March 2023 – First day for the conduct of party primaries
- 17 April 2023 – Final day for the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them
- 24 April 2023 – First day for submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal
- 5 May 2023 – Final day for submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal
- 9 June 2023 – Publication of final nominee list
- 14 June 2023 – Commencement of the official campaign period
- 9 November 2023 – Final day of the official campaign period