A topic from AEG's L5R CCG Rules forum, copied for Oracle of the Void from a copy of the forum saved in October 2015, so pages it didn't save are missing. Players' names are left out; the rules officials are named. Rulings are as they stood on these dates; later rulings, the rulebooks and the Rules Archive may differ.
A player, 19 March 2015
There may be some conflicting information on this or a possible change in the rules. To take a Favor Action... you must have the Imperial Favor.
So my scenario is my opponent has the Favor. I have Imperial Summons in my hand and my stronghold unbowed. May i legally play Imperial Summons on one of opponents personalities if he has the favor. Mainly wanted to double check if the wording for Favor Action changes or changed in 20F. As I was told to perform a favor action you must have the favor.
Imperial Summons
Favor Political Open: Bow your Stronghold or discard the Imperial Favor to bow a target Personality.
Jon Palmer (rules official), 23 March 2015
Favor actions require that their player control the Imperial Favor, or have an alternate effect, substitute, or waiver (“need not”) for discarding the Favor.
In this case, bowing your stronghold satisfies the "or" clause so you're good.