Governorship seat must remain in Ebonyi North till 2031, group insists

From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki

A socio-cultural, socio-economic, and socio-political organisation in Ebonyi State, Ezza Ezekuna Development Association (EEDA), has declared that the governorship seat in the state must remain in Ebonyi North senatorial zone till 2031 general election for justice, fairness, equity, and political stability.

The association made the declaration, yesterday, at a press conference in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Addressing journalists, National President of the association, Chief Kingsley Akam, Secretary of the association, Comrade Uchechukwu Edeh, and a member of the association, Professor Chike Emmanuel Onwe, said the association aligns itself with the established zoning arrangement governing political succession in the state, insisting that Ebonyi North senatorial zone must be allowed to complete its two tenures of the governorship seat as done by other two senatorial zones in the state.

“The Ezza Ezekuna Development Association believes firmly in justice, fairness, equity, and political stability. These are not abstract values to be invoked in ceremony and abandoned in practice.

“They are the operative principles upon which durable inter-communal harmony is built, and they have contributed significantly to the peace and progress enjoyed across Ebonyi State since its creation.

“We align ourselves fully with the established zoning arrangement governing political succession in Ebonyi State, and we do so not as a new or recent conversion, but as an expression of a position that the leaders and people of Ezza Ezekuna have previously declared and consistently maintained.

“That position has never changed, and it shall not change. The governorship of Ebonyi State remains, in accordance with the prevailing zoning understanding, in Ebonyi North until 2031. No reasonable Ezza person, properly informed of the history of our state and properly committed to the collective stability of Ebonyi, would oppose this arrangement. Those who do so, act, neither on behalf of Ezza people nor in the interest of the peace that all our communities depend upon.

“Political ambition, however legitimate in itself, must never supersede collective stability. Personal interest must never override the peace of Ebonyi State.

“Our position on this matter is unambiguous: any conversation regarding future political succession must be approached within the framework of equity, mutual respect, and the established political understandings that have guided the state’s politics from its formation.

“We reject any attempt to portray Ezza people as being in opposition to these principles. Ezza people have always stood on the side of justice, and under the leadership of this association, they shall continue to do so”, the association stated.

The group, which endorsed Governor Francis Nwifuru as its sole candidate for the 2027 governorship race in the state, dismissed a communique by some persons in Abakaliki bloc, who described themselves as Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council against power rotation in the state.

“The so-called Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council has no legal existence. It is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. It has no constitutional foundation within the traditions or governance structures of any of the constituent clans of Umuekumenyi.

“It is, in plain terms, a contraption — assembled hurriedly and without mandate by individuals pursuing personal political agendas under the cover of a name designed to create the illusion of collective authority. The public, the media, and all relevant institutions are advised to treat it as such.

“The individuals who participated in that charade do not represent any identifiable section, clan, or community within Umuekumenyi. They were not elected. They were not delegated. They were not authorised by any traditional institution, socio-cultural organisation or community assembly within the Umuekumenyi family.

“They speak for themselves alone, and the positions they have articulated in their communiqué must be understood as personal opinions — not as the voice of any community, not as the position of Umuekumenyi and certainly not as the stance of Ezza Ezekuna”, the association said.

It vowed that it will resist any attempt to subvert the power rotation in the state or present its violation as the will of Ezza clan.

“We declare our full support for the principles of peace, political equity, and zoning as the governing framework for political succession in Ebonyi State. The governorship of Ebonyi State remains in Ebonyi North, in accordance with the established zoning arrangement.

“We shall resist, by every legitimate means available to us, any attempt to subvert this arrangement or to present its violation as the will of Ezza people. We declare our irrevocable endorsement of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for a second term as Governor of Ebonyi State.

“This endorsement is made freely, without coercion and without reservation. It is grounded in his demonstrated commitment to peace, development, and inclusive governance, and in our conviction that the continuity of his administration is in the best interest of Ezza people and of Ebonyi State as a whole. Ezza Ezekuna stands firmly and irrevocably behind the governor”.