The National President of the Ebonyi South Youths Assembly, Njoku, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Chief Chukwuma Odii, to respect the zoning arrangement in Ebonyi State and support the re-election bid of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
Njoku made the call on Friday while reacting to recent comments attributed to Odii, accusing the PDP candidate of attempting to undermine the established rotational arrangement that has guided the state’s political leadership since its creation.
He argued that the governorship has historically rotated among the three senatorial zones, describing the arrangement as a mechanism for promoting equity, fairness, inclusion and peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.
According to him, Odii is aware that the zoning arrangement could affect his chances in 2027, stressing that the Abakaliki bloc, comprising two senatorial zones and eight local government areas, has a larger political base than Ebonyi South, which has one senatorial zone and five local government areas.
The youth leader also accused the PDP candidate of merely repackaging policies and programmes already being implemented by the Nwifuru administration.
He listed human capital development, youth empowerment, skills acquisition, agriculture, technology, healthcare and economic transformation among areas where he said Odii’s proposed agenda appeared similar to that of the incumbent governor.
“It is both ironic and shameful that the same Anyichuks, who have struggled to articulate a distinct vision for Ebonyi, have now resorted to echoing the very development philosophy and people-oriented programmes already being implemented by the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru,” the group said.
The Assembly further criticised what it described as Odii’s limited presence in the state, arguing that effective governance requires leaders to maintain close contact with the people and understand their daily realities.
It urged the PDP candidate to present what it described as original and clearly defined policy alternatives rather than, according to the group, reproducing programmes of the current administration.
The youth group also defended Governor Nwifuru’s performance, citing developments in education, healthcare, road infrastructure, youth empowerment, security, agriculture and economic development.
It reaffirmed its support for Nwifuru’s administration, saying the governor should be judged by his performance and tangible achievements rather than political rhetoric.
The Assembly expressed confidence that Ebonyi voters would support what it described as continuity and purposeful leadership ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
