Hope Uzodinma Biography
Hope Odidika Uzodinma was born on 12 December, 1958. He is a Nigerian politician who serves as Governor of Imo State.
On 14 January 2020, the Supreme Court in Nigeria declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2019 governorship poll in Imo State nullifying the election of incumbent Emeka Ihedioha.
Early Life and Education
Hope Uzodinma was born on 12 December 1958 in Omuma to an Igbo Catholic family; his father Chief Michael Uzodinma held the chieftaincy title of Igwe of Ozuh Omuma and his mother was Ezinne Rose Uzodinma (née Nneoha).
He is a kinsman of the Okoro family of Etiti-Omuma.
Hope Uzodinma is a devout Catholic, and is married to Chioma Uzodinma with seven children.
As far as his secondary education, he stopped at class two,and claims to hold a Diploma in Maritime Management Technology, and Higher Diploma in the same field, from the Federal University of Technology Owerri.
He also has a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from Washington University in St. Louis.
Prior to his entry into politics, Uzodinma was a businessman with vast business interests.
Hope Uzodinma Career
Hope Uzodinma began his political career during the Second Nigerian Republic, joining the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), where in 1983, he became the Imo State youth leader.
In the 1990s, with the aborted transition to the Third Nigerian Republic, Uzodinma featured prominently as a member of the United Nigeria Congress Party.
In 1999, after the return to democracy, Uzodinma joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), where he served as a member of the party’s National Caucus, National Executive Committee and on the Board of Trustees, at various times between 1999 to 2017.
As a party boss in Imo State, Uzodinma was a close associate of the Governor Achike Udenwa until late 2002, when ahead of the April 2003 elections he decamped to the Alliance for Democracy (AD), becoming the party’s candidate for the Imo State gubernatorial election.
After losing the election to Udenwa, he returned to the PDP in February 2004.
He later contested the PDP governorship primaries in December 2006, coming in second to Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
In 2011, after the incumbent Governor Ikedi Ohakim joined the PDP, Uzodinma endorsed him to run for a second-term as Governor of Imo State, favoring him over Rochas Okorocha who he later won.
In January 2011, Uzodinma won the PDP senatorial primary for the Imo West, gaining 2,147 votes, while the incumbent Senator Osita Izunaso came second with 891 votes.
Hope Uzodinma was later disqualified by a federal high court judgment as he had not been cleared by the PDP electoral panel led by Nwafor-Orizu.
In March 2011, a court of appeal issued a stay of execution while the case was being decided, leaving Uzodinma free to campaign.
On 5 April 2011 the Court of Appeal upheld the federal high court judgement, Uzodinma later appealed this decision at the Supreme Court.
In the April 2011 elections, Uzodinma received 85,042 votes, ahead of former Governor Achike Udenwa of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with 64,228 votes and Rajis Okpalan Benedicta of the All Progressives Grand Alliance with 57,110 votes.
In May 2011, the Supreme Court overturned the earlier decisions and declared that Uzodinma was the valid candidate and therefore had been elected.
Social Handle
Facebook – Chief Dr. Hope Uzodimma “Onwa Oyoko”
Twitter @HUzodinma
Instagram @he_HopeUzodimma
Net Worth
Hope Uzodinma is a Nigerian politician who serves as Governor of Imo State. He has an estimated net worth of $5 millions.
Family
Hope Uzodinma was born on 12 December 1958 in Omuma; his father Chief Michael Uzodinma held the chieftaincy title of Igwe of Ozuh Omuma and his mother was Ezinne Rose Uzodinma (née Nneoha). He is a kinsman of the Okoro family of Etiti-Omuma. Uzodinma is a devout Catholic, and is married to Chioma Uzodinma with seven children.
