By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Business Development, Chief Oguzor Offia-Nwali, has dismissed the “Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council” as a “nebulous” and “phoney” political group allegedly bankrolled to disparage the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.

In a statement titled “Setting the Records Straight” and issued Sunday in Abakaliki, Oguzor accused the group of using the name “Umuekumenyi” to deceive the public while acting as a campaign structure for PDP chieftain, Chief Chukwuma Odii.

“In an electioneering period as this, there are bound to be springing up of real and fake political groups,” he said. “The so-called Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council… is one of the nebulous political groups in Ebonyi State.”

Oguzor described as “a complete fabrication” the group’s claim that the Nwifuru government is disconnected from the masses.

He cited “the highest number of youth appointments into sensitive positions,” youth empowerment programmes, and scholarship awards for Ebonyi students in Nigerian and foreign universities as evidence of a government “connected with the people like an umbilical cord.”

He further defended the Governor’s credentials, noting that governor Nwifuru served 12 years as a state Lawmaker and eight years as Speaker.

“Therefore… the government… is not in any way undergoing any form of leadership trial or experimentation, except to the greedy and envious elements masquerading as Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council,” he stated.

The Commissioner said Ebonyi’s economy is on a “positive growth trend” with strong ease-of-doing-business ratings and rising local and foreign investment.

He highlighted the recruitment of over 2,000 teachers and more than 600 medical professionals, including doctors, lab scientists, and nurses, saying the move had shifted the state “from the state of jobless people to a state of gainfully employed and engaged people.”

Describing Ebonyi as “the most peaceful state in the South East” and “the state with the lowest cost of living,” he said the influx of trucks loading food to other states contradicted claims of economic hardship.

Oguzor alleged that the Council is “a Campaign Council of Chief Chukwuma Odii, who are speaking from the benefits of him as an ATM.” He also referenced “Chief Emmanuel Nwobo, GNG and Co-Travellers,” saying their exercise “is bankrolled by the Lagos-based ATM.”

He urged them to “come clean” and present themselves as PDP members rather than “hiding behind their palms just to deceive Ndu Ebonyi.”

“Ezza Clan worldwide, without exception, has resolved to support the second term of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru,” he said. “They’re free to cash out from Chief Ifeanyi Odii as usual, but not free to use the name ‘Umuekumenyi’ for their Bet Naija business by expired politicians.”

He concluded: “His Excellency, Rt Hon Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru till 2031, there is no vacancy in Ebonyi Government House.”

It will be recalled that the Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council, at a press conference on Friday, June 13, 2026, endorsed the factional PDP governorship candidate, Chief Chukwuma Ifeanyi Odii, for the 2027 gubernatorial election, accusing Governor Nwifuru of underperformance.

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