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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The endorsement of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, by medical students of Ebonyi State University has been followed by a fresh endorsement of Governor Francis Nwifuru by the Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), South-East Zone, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Members of the Ebonyi State University Medical Students Association (EBSUMSA) had, during their homecoming and reunion colloquium, declared support for Odii, expressing confidence in his ability to improve their fortunes and reposition the state for development if elected governor.
Less than a week after the students’ declaration, the TSO, South-East Zone, on Monday, endorsed Nwifuru for a second term, pledging to mobilise support for the governor and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The timing of the endorsements has drawn attention to the emerging political contest between the two camps, with a political analyst in the state alleging that the governor’s supporters were seeking to counter the impact of the students’ backing for Odii.
Odii, who was represented at the students’ colloquium by Chief Moses Idika, Director of Media and Publicity of Anyi G’ Emeya, promised to transform Ebonyi State University into a centre of excellence if elected governor.
He also pledged to expand access to medical education, improve professional competence and develop a sustainable pipeline of skilled personnel for the state’s health system.
“Consider our medical professionals who receive their education in Nigeria and, subsequently, practise abroad. Many encounter a striking difference between the working environments they leave behind and the systems into which they enter. They often discover better-equipped facilities, more reliable infrastructure, stronger institutional support, and more conducive conditions for professional growth.
“Yet, there is no magic behind the success of these systems. Progress begins when those entrusted with authority, at every level, commit themselves to doing things properly, making responsible decisions, and putting the public interest first. Our vision is to transform Ebonyi State University into a true centre of excellence, recognised for quality education, research, innovation, and professional development,” Odii said.
However, a political analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being attacked, alleged that the state government had summoned student leaders and directed them to withdraw their support for the PDP candidate following the endorsement.
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The analyst described the alleged move as an attempt to undermine the students’ freedom to make their political choices, insisting that endorsements should reflect the genuine convictions of those making them.
“What is going on in Ebonyi politics is both petty and primitive. This is not how politics should be played and is played in other states in Nigeria. I think politics and/or election should be a process through which the people freely elect their representatives or leaders.”
“Why then is our own way of playing politics different here? Student groups gathered, accessed the candidates and then decided to genuinely endorse a particular candidate because they believe that candidate will do better if given the chance. So, why would any democratic leader summon the same students and direct them to reject such endorsement? Is this not anti-democracy? Is this not autocracy? Anyways, we are watching to see how it all plays out,” he said.
The analyst also questioned the timing of the TSO’s endorsement of Nwifuru, alleging that the renewed endorsements of the governor were intended to dilute the political significance of the students’ declaration in favour of Odii.
“The ongoing endorsements spree by the governor were done to douse the one already done by the student body on his major challenger, Odii. For us, these are forced or procured endorsements, they are fake endorsements, because they were not done by the people willingly. Those doing these endorsements for the re-election of the governor are not doing so with their genuine intentions,” he alleged.
The TSO announced its endorsement of Nwifuru during a solidarity visit to the APC State Secretariat in Abakaliki on Monday.
The delegation was led by the organisation’s South-East Zonal Coordinator, Chief Celestine Kojos Ekechi, who said the endorsement was based on the governor’s performance in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and youth and women empowerment under his administration’s Charter of Needs policy.
Ekechi said the organisation, which operates across polling units, wards and the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State, was prepared to mobilise grassroots support for Nwifuru and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Despite the TSO’s pledge to mobilise support for the governor, the students’ endorsement of Odii has added another dimension to the emerging political contest ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election.
