By CHARLES LWUOHA

A socio-cultural organisation, Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly (EEYA), has declared that there is no rotation of governorship seat in Ebonyi State, saying that qualified indigene of the state origin is entitled to contest in respective of zone.

The group stated that the present administration under Governor Francis Nwifuru since 2023, has failed to provide the needed divided of democracy to the people of Ebonyi State.

It opined that Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, for the 2027 general election remains the most preferred candidate who hails from Ebonyi South zone.

The organisation at a rally it organised at the weekend in Abakaliki, stated that the antecedent of Odii as a wealth creator, businessman and lover of his people and his internationally acknowledged philanthropic gestures to people across Nigeria show that he understands the needs of the people.

Addressing thousands of youths at the rally, Comrade Sunday Nelson Orogwu, the National President of EEYA stated that, Ebonyi State needs someone who can restructure, rebuild, renovate, re-enhance, rearrange and restore the dignity and image of Ebonyi State.

"We need someone who has remedy to existential problem of Ebonyi State, who can lay solid foundation for Ebonyians both now and for generations yet unborn. Odii is someone who has satisfied the thirst of Ebonyians. He is someone who is detribalised, someone who has proficiency to revamp Ebonyi economy, someone who will stop crisis in Ebonyi State thereby making Ebonyians to co-exist as brothers, someone who can industrialise Ebonyi State thereby creating jobs for Ebonyians, especially the youths.

Odii is someone who will not loot our money and enrich himself, and above all, someone who is creative that can create wealth for the youth thereby wiping away poverty and crime.

The group in a 11-page communique signed by its leadership across seven local government areas in the state, enumerated the achievements of Odii as a private individual who has touched lives and communities in several areas including, education, infrastructure development, human capital development, social services, sports, entertainment among numerous areas noted that the decision to back him was taken at the EEYA General Assembly convened at its Worldwide Secretariat, Onueke between June 27th and 30th June, 2026.

Leading the communique, Comrade Orogwu announced that, “this backing is done in the spirit of no retreat, no surrender” because, they have found in Odii a man who is ready and eager to “unite the people of Ebonyi State” for greater and accelerated development.

In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the EEYA, Chief Elechi Ngwuta revealed the organisation was formed in 2021 and currently has over 7,000 registered members.

Chief Ngwuta stated that, despite the central place Ezza people occupy in the ancestral legacies of Ebonyi State, successive governments “have always used the people as an article of political trade without consequential and verifiable benefit.” He said that the people of Ezza nation were solidly behind Chief Odii’s candidacy as the only pathway for Ezza people to come into the mainstream of Ebonyi State politics.

Earlier, the Chairman of Umuekumenyi Leaders Council, Chief Christopher Nwankwo Ngwuta, popularly known as GNG in his goodwill message lamented that since the creation of Ebonyi State, prominent Ezza politicians who had aspired to high political offices in the state had always been cut short to the anguish of Ezza people noting that Chief Odii is man who means well for the people irrespective of tongue or religion.

He encouraged the EEYA to remain steadfast assuring them that elders of Ezza nation were solidly behind them in the overall best interest of the state.

Responding, Chief Odii who was represented by Chief Ogbonnaya Igboke, the immediate past Commissioner for Project Monitoring in the state and the Ohaozara, Onicha, Ivo Federal Constituency hopeful on the platform of the PDP thanked the leadership and members of the EEYA for the endorsement.

Chief Odii assured them that “there is no going back because Ebonyi Statemust be rescued from misgovernance.” Chief Odii urged them to be bold and not be intimidated by any opponent as the 2027 election will be the beginning of the liberation of the state.

Among those who signed the communique are, Comrade Sunday Nelson Orogwu, National President; Comrade Neoke Ikechukwu, National Secretary; Nwafor Samson Iteshi, Publicity Secretary; Mrs Maryjane Nwafor Ifeoma, Women leader; Ineke Julius, Onicha LGA and Uchenna Oguji, Coordinator Ezza South.

Others include, Hon. Friday Orogwu, Ikwo LGA; Jacob Ekepe, Ishielu LGA, Hon Ogbonna Nwaenyim, Ohaukwu LGA, Hon Ogbonna Oduburu, Ezza North LGA and Anthony Nome, Ivo LGA.