Ihedioha, who won the 2019 governorship election under PDP, was removed from office on January 14, 2020, by the Supreme Court, which declared Incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma, who came a distant fourth in the election, as the winner. His withdrawal from the race is considered a significant development in the party's governorship race.
Sources close to the former governor suggest that the removal of Ayu, a former Senate President, was one of the factors that influenced his decision to withdraw from the race. Ihedioha had worked as a press officer to Ayu when he was Senate President in 1992. However, his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu, confirmed Ihedioha's withdrawal from the race but did not provide any further details.
The PDP has yet to issue an official statement regarding Ihedioha's withdrawal. However, the party's national leadership had called for a peaceful, transparent, and credible governorship primary. The primary election is expected to produce the party's flagbearer for the 2023 governorship election in Imo State. The party has been in opposition in the state since 2019 when the Supreme Court removed Ihedioha from office. The PDP is expected to present a strong challenge to Governor Uzodimma in the forthcoming governorship election.