Politics
2023: Ekweremadu, Isi-uzo, Nkanu Land and the next Enugu Governor
By Prince Petrus Obi.
The rally was astounding. Attendance was stunning. The aims and objectives were clear. And the message was clearly delivered to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Yes, the race for who replaced Ugwuanyi in 2023 has begun. The top contenders are already known. And the behind the scene scheming, horse trading is on.
The issues:
Zoning is a major issues that has cropped up in the build up to the 2023 elections. Some have called for a stakeholders meeting for the issue to be addressed. For this school of thought, there was never a time in the the past that the people met and agreed on a zoning arrangement. They argue that in 1999 all the zones contested and Enugu East zone won through Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani. From then it rotated through the two other zones. Having gone round, they argue it’s time to come to the drawing board.
But the people of Enugu East insist that the zoning has enthroned peace and should continue the way it’s going. Therefore, Enugu East zone should without issues get the guber position.
The issue of Ekweremadu.
Ekweremadu has not said he is running for Governor in 2023, yet there are strong indications that he may run.
His people of Enugu West are of the view that the position should be thrown open having gone round the zone. Others who are supporting Ekweremadu see him as a good candidate having performed excellently as a senator. For them, competency should not be sacrificed on the alter of zoning. Enugu deserves the best, and should not be denied this opportunity; they assert.
Recall that Ekweremadu fell out with former governor Sullivan Chime after the then governor unanimously announced, in 2015, that the governorship position had been zoned to Enugu North.
Ekweremadu contended that Sullivan out to have called a Stakeholders meeting where such a decision ought to have been taken.
The fear of Nkanu people
The Nkanu people seem not comfortable with the signs that Ekweremadu could run for Governor come 2023. Having spread his tentacles across the three zones of Enugu State, the senator has made him popular in the State. Holding sway as Deputy President of the Senate Ekweremadu provided social amenities, scholarships, bursary, among other incentives to communities outside his constituency. Ekweremadu attracted several infrastructural projects like roads, water and electricity such that no other senator ever, from South East can compete with. He also gave appointment to so many even beyond Enugu State. There are therefore fears that his joining the race could throw spanners in the wheels.
Again, there are fears, though not substantiated, that Ugwuanyi may have a pact to handover power to Ekweremadu at the end of his tenure.
There are also fears that Ekweremadu could use his contacts in the PDP to ‘steal’ the party guber ticket.
Furthermore, the people of Nkanu who dominate the Enugu East zone, made up of six local governments fear that Ugwuanyi may favour Isi-uzo LGA who are also part of the zone. Ugwuanyi appears to have candidates he is considering for the position. But the Nkanu’s appear not disposed to an Isi-uzo candidacy in 2023. They argue that even though Isi-uzo is in Enugu East, that they are of Nsukka cultural zone, and giving them power is like retaining power in Nsukka, where the incumbent comes from.
Nkanu people are ready to have a go at the Governoship position in 2023 and cannot be stopped. They said this much at the rally and sent warning signals to the other zone.
Former Commissioner Barr. Ray Nnaji in a recent interview with EverydayNews warned of danger if the selection of the next governor is not collectively done involving all major stakeholders.
He even threatened that the PDP will lose Enugu should Ekweremadu get the party ticket.
But going by the body language of Governor Ugwuanyi, and his speech at the Okpara Square rally, power appears to be shifting to Enugu East zone.
And by EverydayNews findings the top contenders include, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, Engr. Evarest Nnaji (Ondengene’) Barr. Peter Mba, Rt. Hon Edward Ubosi, Hon Chijioke Edeoga and Hon Augustine Nnamani.
In the now-controversial post shared on his social media page, Osborne wrote: “In a sane clime president Bola Ahmed Tinubu would’ve respectfully and honourably resigned. I’m of APC but truth be told.”
The comment quickly generated reactions online before the Akwa Ibom State Government moved to terminate his appointment.
In a letter dated June 2, 2026, the Office of the Political Adviser to the Governor announced his immediate disengagement.
The termination letter, signed by the Political Adviser to the Governor, Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh, stated that Osborne Ubong Okon had been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.Politics
According to the letter, the decision was taken over actions the office described as disloyal.
“You are hereby relieved of your engagement as a Media Aide to the Political Adviser to His Excellency the Governor, with immediate effect and from today, 2nd June 2026,” the memo read.
The letter further cited “actions bordering on disloyalty” and the need to keep the office “purified” as reasons for the dismissal.
The office also issued a warning to members of the public and government officials regarding future dealings with the former aide.
“Any person having dealings with the above-mentioned former Media Aide in relation to this office of his former engagement does so on his/her own peril,” the statement added.
The development has sparked fresh conversations about the limits of political expression for government appointees and the expectations of loyalty within public service, particularly when comments are directed at the presidency.
Neither Osborne nor the Presidency had publicly responded to the development as of the time of filing this report.
The decision was taken during plenary on Tuesday at the Assembly complex in Dutse, the state capital, as the party continues to deal with the fallout from recent primaries.
The action comes amid a wave of suspensions across Jigawa APC following the recently conducted primary election.
Several special advisers and special assistants have already been suspended statewide over alleged anti-party activities from state level down to local government level.
Maigari, who doubles as the councillor representing Auyo Ward, was suspended after the House considered a motion by the Majority Leader, Lawan Dansure.
The motion sought disciplinary action against the lawmaker for conduct deemed harmful to party cohesion.
Moving the motion during the Assembly’s plenary session on Tuesday, Dansure urged members to support the suspension.
He said the House must act to protect the integrity of the ruling party ahead of 2027.
According to him, the actions of the Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council are detrimental to the unity, stability, and progress of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
“His actions are detrimental to the unity, stability, and progress of the All Progressives Congress,” Dansure told the House.
He argued that anti-party conduct at the grassroots level could undermine APC’s performance in future elections.
He said the House could not fold its arms while party discipline was being tested.
“Hon. Haruna Maigari is hereby suspended as Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council over alleged anti-party activities,” Dangyatin announced during plenary.
The Speaker also said the House remains committed to party discipline at all levels of governance in the state.
Dangyatin then constituted an investigative committee to look into the matter and report back within two weeks.
“The committee is expected to establish facts and recommend further action based on its findings,” he said.
The Speaker also directed the suspended lawmaker to hand over all official documents in his possession to the Deputy Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council.
He said the handover must be done immediately to ensure continuity of council business.
Meanwhile, the House also received a formal notification from Governor Umar Namadi regarding an official trip.
“The governor is billed to attend a two-day West African Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra, Ghana,” the Speaker said during the plenary session of the Assembly.
Dangyatin, who explained that the governor’s foreign engagement will hold between June 2 and June 3, 2026, added that “the governor’s participation is aimed at attracting investment to Jigawa’s rice value chain.”
By Chinedu Sabastine
Mr. Samson Chukwu Nnamani has declared that he remains the authentic governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 election.
Nnamani made this known on Friday during a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Enugu.
Reacting to allegations that he was suspended from the party before the PDP governorship primary election, Nnamani dismissed the claim, questioning how a supposedly suspended aspirant could participate in the exercise and secure votes.
“The purported claim that I was suspended is very funny. If I was suspended as they claim, how can they attribute votes for me during their kangaroo primary,” Nnamani questioned.
Represented by his Media Director, Dr. Buchi Nnaji, the PDP chieftain said his authenticity derives from the present recognition of the Abdulrahman-led faction of the PDP by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of which he is a member.
The clarification followed the emergence of multiple claimants to the PDP governorship ticket in Enugu State.
Nnamani insisted that the party was no longer factionalised following INEC’s recognition of the Abdulrahman-led PDP leadership, noting that the panel which declared him winner where sent from their headquaters, Abuja.
Nnamani expressed gratitude to PDP leaders and supporters whom he said turned out massively on Sunday, May 24, 2026, to elect him as the party’s governorship candidate.
He pledged to reposition Enugu State through infrastructure development, job creation and people-oriented policies.
“As the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, I remain committed to the ideals of good governance, inclusive leadership, economic development, youth empowerment, quality education, improved healthcare and enhanced security for all residents,” he said.
He added that his aspiration was to build “a greater Enugu State where opportunities abound for every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, religion or social status.”
According to him, his administration would prioritise infrastructure development, industrialisation, support for small businesses and welfare programmes aimed at improving the lives of the people.
“We shall also review and remove policies and practices that are truncating the wellbeing, economic survival and social advancement of the citizens,” he stated.
Nnamani further called on stakeholders, party faithful, youths, women, traditional rulers and the people of Enugu State to join hands in building “a united, peaceful and progressive state.”
“Together, we can achieve the Enugu of our dreams,” he added.
The Presidency has reacted following the circulation of an alleged WhatsApp voice note in which President Bola Tinubu reportedly claims he begged opposition figure Peter Obi to step down ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The reaction came on Wednesday from Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President.
Onanuga condemned the audio file, labeling it a fabrication and called for legal action against popular social media critic VeryDarkMan who shared it.
“This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu. This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform.,” Onanuga tweeted.
In the viral video, VeryDarkMan used the alleged leaked audio to urge Nigerians to vote against President Tinubu’s reelection bid in the upcoming 2027 polls.
Recall that just days ago, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, President Tinubu secured the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a landslide nationwide direct primary election.
During that contest, Tinubu faced a lone challenger, Edo State businessman and APC chieftain Stanley Osifo. The President won with 10,999,162 votes from the 12,643,306 registered party members, while Osifo secured 16,503 votes.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi, who finished third in the 2023 election, is widely expected to fly the flag for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). Both Obi and Tinubu hail from the southern region of Nigeria and are set to face last year’s runner-up, Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to lead the ticket for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyichukwuma Odii, has accused Governor Francis Nwifuru of running the state like a personal family business.
Odii made the remark shortly after emerging as the PDP governorship candidate for the 2027 election following the party’s primary election conducted across the 13 local government areas of the state.
Speaking to party supporters in Abakaliki, Odii said the 2027 election would be about rescuing Ebonyi from poor governance and restoring economic growth and public welfare.
“Ebonyi can never be consumed. Ebonyi can never be conquered. Ebonyi can never become a personal family business, and we are here for the rescue of our dear state,” he stated.
The PDP flag bearer pledged to improve the welfare of civil servants and teachers while promising policies aimed at reviving the state’s economy.
Odii also dismissed fears over political opposition ahead of the election, insisting that his focus remained the development and progress of Ebonyi State.
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