Ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration has asked all the owners and managers of hotels in Owerri metropolis to make their rooms available only to the government.

According to the memo issued by Barr. Jerry Egbule Egemba, Commissioner for State Ministry of Tourism, the government was planning to rent and occupy all the hotel rooms, no matter their size or classification, in the state from Saturday, November 4, to Saturday, November 11, 2023, thus shutting out election observers and other political parties.

The commissioner told hotel owners to submit to his office before noon on Thursday, October 26, 2023, details of their accommodation bills for all the rooms covering the period for settlement.

The development has raised suspicion in the various camps of other political parties as well as civil society organisations.

It is feared that the action might be an attempt by the Imo State government to shut out election observers from monitoring the electoral process.

However, when contacted, Oguike Nwachukwu, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma said “We don’t respond to nonsense.”