Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has thrown his weight behind Governor Francis Nwifuru’s bid for a second term, insisting that the existing political rotation arrangement in the state should be maintained.
Umahi made the position known on Tuesday while addressing political stakeholders from Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency at Osborne Hotel, Uburu, in Ohaozara Local Government Area.
The minister argued that the governorship slot has not yet returned to Ebonyi South Senatorial District, which produced him as governor from 2015 to 2023.
According to Umahi, the current political arrangement should be allowed to run its course before another senatorial zone takes its turn.
He said he intends to personally engage the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, on the issue and appeal to him to step aside in favour of Nwifuru.
Umahi said his planned engagement with Odii was intended to prevent political competition from creating divisions among Ebonyi people.
“I will be the one to go and talk to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ifeanyi Odii,” he said.
The former governor has increasingly positioned himself behind Nwifuru and the All Progressives Congress as political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election gather momentum.
He recently declared that the PDP would not return to power in the state and urged residents to support the incumbent governor’s re-election bid.
Addressing the stakeholders, Umahi also called for unity among political leaders and urged them to place the collective interests of Ebonyi above individual political ambitions.
He maintained that political decisions should be guided by fairness and the state’s established arrangements, while encouraging stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at promoting development across Ebonyi.
The 2027 governorship contest is expected to feature Nwifuru seeking another term on the APC platform, while Odii is expected to challenge the incumbent under the PDP.
