WAMELA Petitions CCB Over Governor Uzodimma’s 2027 Senate Ambition, Raises Conflict of Interest Concerns
The Association of West African Media Lawyers (WAMELA) has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), seeking an investigation into whether Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma’s plan to contest a Senate seat in the 2027 general election while still in office raises concerns about a possible conflict of interest or abuse of office.
The petition, dated October 20, 2026, and addressed to the chairman of the CCB, followed Uzodimma’s public declaration of his intention to contest a senatorial seat in 2027. The governor recently told members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he would “be on the ballot as a senatorial candidate.”
WAMELA urged the Bureau to examine whether pursuing the Senate seat while his tenure as governor remains in effect until 2028 could create a conflict between his personal political ambitions and the constitutional responsibilities of his office.
The association cited Paragraph 1 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which prohibits public officers from placing themselves in situations where their personal interests conflict with their official responsibilities or using their offices for improper purposes.
It also referenced constitutional provisions empowering the CCB to receive and investigate complaints concerning alleged violations of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and, where necessary, refer cases to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
WAMELA’s president in Nigeria, Aigbokhan, Esq., said the association was not challenging the right of a sitting governor to aspire to another elective position. Rather, it was concerned about the implications of pursuing such an ambition while continuing to exercise the powers and responsibilities of the governorship.
“Our concern is not whether a sitting Governor could aspire to another elective office, but whether he can pick a senatorial nomination to pursue a senatorial seat in 2027 while his tenure remains subsisting till 2028,” Aigbokhan said.
He argued that the circumstances could raise questions about whether a governor’s personal political ambitions might conflict with the constitutional obligations attached to the office.
According to him, the oath of office taken by a governor is “a binding constitutional undertaking, not a mere ceremonial formality.”
The association further maintained that any use, neglect or compromise of the powers, privileges, resources or responsibilities attached to the governorship to advance personal political ambitions could warrant scrutiny under the Code of Conduct framework.
However, WAMELA did not allege that Uzodimma had already used state resources to pursue his Senate ambition. Instead, it asked the CCB to investigate whether the circumstances surrounding his political plans constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct.
The group requested that the Bureau formally register the petition, conduct a preliminary assessment and verify the circumstances surrounding Uzodimma’s senatorial nomination within seven days of receiving the complaint.
It also urged the CCB to take any lawful action justified by its findings, including referring the matter to the Code of Conduct Tribunal if an actionable breach is established.
The petition comes amid growing attention to Uzodimma’s political plans ahead of the 2027 general election. While the governor has publicly confirmed his intention to contest for the Senate, political discussions have also linked him to the leadership contest expected in the 11th National Assembly.
WAMELA said its intervention was part of its broader advocacy for constitutional governance, accountability and the rule of law.
The organisation also focuses on issues including freedom of expression, press freedom, access to information, digital rights, media independence and the protection of journalists across West Africa.
