The Association of West African Media Lawyers (WAMELA) has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), asking it to investigate whether Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma’s decision to contest a Senate seat in 2027 while still serving as governor raises questions of conflict of interest or abuse of office.
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The petition, dated October 20, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of the CCB, followed Uzodimma’s public declaration that he intends to contest a senatorial seat in the 2027 general election. The governor recently told members of the All Progressives Congress that he would “be on the ballot as a senatorial candidate.”
WAMELA asked the Bureau to examine whether pursuing the Senate seat while Uzodimma’s tenure as governor remains subsisting until 2028 could create a conflict between his political ambition and the constitutional responsibilities attached to the office of governor.
The association based its petition on Paragraph 1 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which prohibits public officers from placing themselves in situations involving conflict between their personal interests and official responsibilities or abusing their offices.
It also relied on constitutional provisions empowering the Code of Conduct Bureau to receive and investigate complaints concerning alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and, where appropriate, refer matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
WAMELA’s head in Nigeria, President Aigbokhan, Esq., said the association was not questioning whether a sitting governor could aspire to another elective office but was concerned about the implications of pursuing such an ambition while still exercising the powers and responsibilities of a governor.
“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.
According to him, the situation could raise questions about whether personal political ambition might conflict with the constitutional obligations of the office.
He maintained that the oath of office taken by a governor is “a binding constitutional undertaking, not a mere ceremonial formality.”
The association further argued that if the powers, privileges, resources or responsibilities attached to the governorship were deployed, neglected or compromised for the purpose of advancing a personal political ambition, such conduct could raise questions requiring investigation under the Code of Conduct framework.
WAMELA, however, did not state that Uzodimma had already deployed state resources in pursuit of his Senate ambition. Its petition asks the CCB to investigate whether circumstances surrounding the ambition amount to a breach of the Code.
The group therefore requested that the CCB 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 Bureau to take whatever lawful steps might be justified by its findings, including referring the matter to the Code of Conduct Tribunal if an actionable breach is established.
The petition comes amid increasing attention to Uzodimma’s political plans ahead of the 2027 elections. The governor has publicly confirmed his intention to contest for the Senate, while political discussions have also linked him with the leadership contest expected in the 11th National Assembly.
WAMELA said its intervention formed part of its wider advocacy for constitutional governance, accountability and the rule of law.
The organisation also works on issues relating to freedom of expression, press freedom, access to information, digital rights, media independence and the protection of journalists across West Africa.
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