In preparation for the upcoming governorship election scheduled for November 11, 2023, the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led Imo State government has made a controversial move by taking over all hotel rooms in Owerri, the state capital, from November 4 to November 12, 2023.
This decision, regardless of room quality, size, price, or location, was communicated through a letter dated October 25, 2023, signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Barrister Jerry Egbule Egemba, and addressed to the General Managers of all hotels in Owerri.
“I wish to refer to the above subject and inform you that the Ministry of Tourism intends to rent and occupy all the rooms in your hotel no matter the size and classification from Saturday 4th November to Saturday 12th November 2023 at your usual cost per room for full occupation.
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“I therefore request you to submit to my office before 12 noon tomorrow Thursday 26th October, 2023 details of your accommodation bills for all the rooms covering the period for settlement.
“Your urgent cooperation would be appreciated, please,” the letter read.
Expressing his concern over the development, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, a renowned human rights lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, took to his X (formerly Twitter) page on Monday to denounce the government’s action.
Odinkalu labeled the seizure of hotel rooms as an orchestrated attempt to manipulate the upcoming election, referring to it as a calculated act of organized crime.
“The govt of Imo State will take over all hotel rooms in the state capital 4-11 Nov for purposes of rigging the governorship election by housing election administrators, election monitors, embedded reporters, etc.
“This is organized crime made to look like a legit transaction.”
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