I Will Defeat Nwifuru at Poll — PDP Candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Odii, has expressed confidence that he will defeat Governor Francis Nwifuru in the 2027 governorship election.

Odii said the PDP is well positioned to take over the state from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), maintaining that he enjoys wider public support and acceptance among the electorate.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, he argued that there is no official document supporting the zoning arrangement often mentioned in the state’s political discussions.

He noted that the Abakaliki bloc, which produced former governors Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi, held the governorship for 20 years, while the Afikpo bloc, to which he belongs, has occupied the office for only eight years.

The PDP candidate said he joined the race to provide better leadership for the state, adding that his record as a philanthropist reflects his commitment to improving the lives of the people.

He also unveiled his plans for the state, promising to drive economic reforms, develop Ebonyi’s solid mineral resources in collaboration with the Federal Government, create jobs to reduce poverty, improve electricity supply and strengthen efforts to tackle insecurity.

Odii recalled that he finished second in the 2023 governorship election and said the experience had provided valuable lessons ahead of the next poll.

He urged voters to ensure that every vote counts and encouraged them to protect both their votes and their future during the election.

The PDP flag bearer also dismissed concerns over the advantage of incumbency, insisting that political power ultimately belongs to God and the people. He added that he remained focused on engaging with the electorate and was not distracted by political developments.

Odii further stated that his party would resist vote buying through public awareness campaigns aimed at educating voters on the dangers of exchanging their votes for money.

On the issue of zoning, he maintained that the people of Ebonyi would place greater value on competence and leadership ability than on regional considerations when choosing the next governor.