By Abraham Ovuoba
Ebonyi State Governor, Rt Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has received the endorsement of the Ezza nation for a second term in office, with the people citing his achievements in education, infrastructure, community development and peace-building across the State.
The endorsement came on Thursday during a rally in Ezza North Local Government Area, attended by political stakeholders, traditional rulers, women, youths and community leaders from across Ezza Nation.
Speaking at the event, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilisation for Ebonyi Central Zone and Secretary-General of the ONWA Oferekpe Foundation Women’s Wing, Barr. Maria Okoho, said Ezza women would intensify grassroots mobilisation and voter sensitization to ensure the governor’s re-election in 2027.
“We are the rural mobilizers and we will continue to work hard to ensure that Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is returned for a second tenure in office. After this gathering, we will move into various wards, polling units and local governments to ensure that no vote is lost,” she said.
Barr. Okoho maintained that the governor had earned the support of the Ezza people through his developmental projects and inclusive style of governance.
She mentioned the establishment of two state-owned universities, construction of classroom blocks, road projects and traditional rulers’ residences as some of the administration’s notable achievements.
“In education, infrastructure and community development, he has done remarkably well. These are visible projects that our people have seen and benefited from,” she stated.
Barr. Okoho stressed that the support for the governor was based on performance and pledged continued grassroots sensitization on his administration’s achievements. She also urged Ezza women and Ebonyi people to remain focused and resist political manipulation.
Other women leaders, including Mrs. Nora Samuel Nweke and Mrs. Nwafor Rachel Chinwe, commended Governor Nwifuru’s developmental strides and pledged to mobilize women to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 elections.
Similarly, the Leader of Ezza-Ezekuna Alioma Autonomous Community, HRH Chief Emmanuel Igboke Owuru, described the endorsement as a collective decision by the Ezza people in recognition of the governor’s performance.
He praised the administration for promoting peace and creating additional autonomous communities to address long-standing aspirations of many Ezza communities.
“Governor Nwifuru has given autonomous communities to Ezza people in areas where we struggled for years without success. Today, our people are happy because their aspirations have been fulfilled,” he stated.
“My advice to the governor is simple: he should keep it up. What he is doing speaks for him. We, the Ezza people, are solidly behind him and will continue to support him,” he added.
The rally ended with chants of solidarity from supporters, community leaders, women and youth groups, who reaffirmed their commitment to Governor Nwifuru’s second-term bid in the 2027 general elections.
