Chief Emma Igwe, Spokesperson to the Ebonyj Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gubernatorial Candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Odii has said that his priincipal will never step down for Gov. Francis Nwifuru.
The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi had recently declared that he will ask his “cousin” Odii to step down for Nwifuru in the 2027 general elections..
The minster had promised to convince Odii that it was not the turn of the state’s southern senatorial district’s to be governor as he (Umahi) just vacated the position in 2023.
Igwe, however maintained while representing Odii at the Ebonyi 2027 elections democratic dialogue in Abakaliki, that the latter would never step down for anyone.
The spokesperson said he has his principal’s authority to declare that it is ridiculous to reduce Ebonyi gubernatorial position to a family affair.
“I do not believe Umahi said so but if he did, it must be under a state of happiness or joke.
“When the minister contested for the Ebonyi gubernatorial seat, he stood firm and fought the prevailing establishment which didn’t want him to be governor.
“He did not become governor because he was from the southern senatorial district but because he was resilient.”
Igwe maintained that any family issue between Umahi and Odii should be treated as such and not in the political sphere.
“Odii has his own political choice, supporters among others and such should not be mixed with any family affair.
“PDP supporters and the generality of Ebonyi populace should be assured that the man who is coming to rescue the state must contest the election.”
He noted that his principal appreciates that zoning promotes inclusiveness but should however be discarded when there is need for a rescue mission.
“Odii will serve one term with the main aim of rescuing the state from its present unpleasant situation.
“He is not trauncating zoning as he will handover after a single term, to someone from the central senatorial district which the zoning arrangement favours after Nwufuru’s term.”
The dialogue was organised by the Centre for Media and Dialogue Initiative in collabortation with the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ebonyi.
