The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, has accused Governor Francis Nwifuru of intimidating opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
Odii told a national television yesterday that the PDP had reported attacks on opposition supporters to security agencies.
He, however, urged his supporters and party members to remain peaceful and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
The governorship hopeful, who also explained why the state PDP is backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, described Nwifuru’s threat to sack local government chairmen who allow opposition parties to campaign in their areas as untenable.
He argued that the governor’s responsibility, as chief security officer of the state, is to protect lives and property, irrespective of political affiliation, rather than restrict opposition activities.
His words: “For a governor to be issuing threats that local government chairmen should not allow opposition political parties to campaign in their state, it is unconstitutional.”
Odii alleged that attacks had occurred in some local government areas following the governor’s sack- threat to the council chairmen.
“We talked to our people to remain law-abiding so that they don’t take laws into their own hands,” the business mogul and philanthropist said.
The PDP candidate also dismissed suggestions that he would withdraw from the contest, insisting that he remained determined to challenge Nwifuru at the polls. Odii, who contested the 2023 governorship election and challenged the outcome up to the Supreme Court, said he returned to the race because he believes the state still faces a leadership gap.
Beyond the dispute over political intimidation, Odii sought to position his candidacy around economic development, pledging to attract N2 trillion in investments to Ebonyi within six months if elected.
He said his business experience and network of contacts in Nigeria and abroad would help attract private capital into the state.
He identified solid minerals, manufacturing, real estate, healthcare and hospitality as sectors with investment potential, arguing that Ebonyi had substantial natural resources that remain untapped. The PDP flag bearer stated that an investor-friendly administration could stimulate industrial development and employment.
Odii maintained that his candidacy was driven by a desire to address poverty and improve living conditions in the state.
He explained that the PDP’s decision to back Tinubu’s second-term bid Is part of a national political understanding between factions of the opposition party and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, the PDP agreed not to field a presidential candidate but would have candidates for other elective positions in the forthcoming elections.
He added: “First of all, the support for Mr President is a national cooperation between PDP and the APC.
“Once a party has given a directive, all of us who happen to be members of the party will align with it
Odii argued that Nigeria’s evolving democracy is increasingly driven by candidates’ records, programmes and connections with voters rather than party affiliation alone.
He maintained that his governorship ambition was based on his personal record, grassroots connections and plans for the state, insisting that the presidential and governorship elections presented separate contests for voters.
Odii also dismissed suggestions that supporting Tinubu while challenging the APC-led government in Ebonyi would put him at a disadvantage.
According to him, political coalitions and alliances are not new in Nigeria, and candidates can pursue different interests at different levels of government.
The PDP candidate further explained that his record of supporting communities through scholarships, school construction, housing and other interventions had earned him the support of ordinary people in Ebonyi.
On his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Odii described him as a national leader of his political camp and said Wike supported him because they belonged to the same party.
