Prof. Osuji retired voluntarily from Imo State University in 1990 to pursue a career in politics. In 1991, he emerged as the Imo State Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with an unprecedented landslide victory.
Prof. Osuji left his professorship at Imo State University in 1990 to pursue a political career, becoming the Social Democratic Party's (SDP) gubernatorial candidate in 1991 and winning with a significant margin.