2027: Group Backs Nwifuru For Second Term, Cites Equity, Performance

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎A socio-political group, Advocates for Equity and Good Leadership, has endorsed Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for a second term in office, citing the state's zoning arrangement and what it described as the governor's developmental achievements. ‎

‎The National President of the group, Barrister Sunday Ununu, announced the endorsement during the organisation's general meeting held today at People's Club Hotel, Abakaliki. ‎ ‎According to Ununu, the gathering, which drew members from political wards, development centres and the 13 local government areas of the state, was convened to reaffirm the group's commitment to supporting Governor Nwifuru's re-election bid in the 2027 governorship election. ‎ ‎He said the endorsement was based on the equity principle guiding the state's power rotation arrangement as well as the governor's performance since assuming office. ‎ ‎"We supported Chief Francis Nwifuru in 2023 after carefully assessing the available candidates. Today, we have resolved to reaffirm that support because the zoning arrangement and his achievements have justified the need for him to complete a second tenure," Ununu said. ‎ ‎He noted that after the completion of eight years of leadership by former Governor David Umahi from Ebonyi South Senatorial District, the governorship returned to Ebonyi North in line with the state's rotational arrangement. ‎

‎Ununu maintained that the organisation was non-partisan but remained committed to promoting equity, justice and good governance in the state. ‎He further stated that the group had adopted Governor Nwifuru as its consensus candidate for the 2027 election, expressing confidence that continuity would consolidate the administration's ongoing programmes. ‎ ‎The legal practitioner attributed the endorsement to what he described as the governor's achievements in human capital development, including scholarship opportunities for about 1,500 beneficiaries pursuing Master's and Ph.D. programmes, as well as ongoing infrastructure projects across the state. ‎ ‎He called on other organisations and stakeholders to support the governor's re-election. ‎ ‎Also speaking, the National President of the Artisans Association of Nigeria, Mr. Nwaze Friday Eze, commended Governor Nwifuru's administration for infrastructural development and inclusive governance. ‎ ‎He described the zoning arrangement as a moral obligation that had helped promote unity and peaceful coexistence among the various clans in Ebonyi State. ‎ ‎Eze said the group remained committed to sustaining the principle of equity, insisting that Governor Nwifuru should be allowed to complete an eight-year tenure in line with the established rotation of power in the state. ‎ ‎Another member of the organisation, Mr. Ogbonnaya Chinwendu Emmanuel, pledged to mobilise support for the governor and candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2027 general election. ‎ ‎He praised the administration for promoting peace, executing development projects across communities and reviving abandoned projects, urging residents to support the governor's continuity agenda. ‎ ‎Similarly, the Coordinator of the group in Ezza North Local Government Area, Mr. Polycarp Obinna Alegu, said Ebonyi State had successfully institutionalised power rotation among the three senatorial districts, with former governors Sam Egwu, Martin Elechi and David Umahi each serving two terms. ‎ ‎He argued that Governor Nwifuru should also be allowed to complete two terms in office in keeping with the state's established zoning arrangement. ‎