Politics
Chairmanship: Fresh Cracks In PDP As Consensus Deal Shatters
The disagreement has again thrown the opposition party into fresh tension and set the stage for a courtroom battle, even as Turaki’s camp pushes ahead with its campaign.
This comes as the party suspended the screening of aspirants for its 2025 Elective National Convention, earlier scheduled for Tuesday (today), citing unforeseen circumstances.
The decision — coming less than a month before the much-anticipated convention — has raised concerns within the party and among political observers about possible internal challenges and the implications for the opposition’s preparations.
In a statement on Monday, Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, announced the postponement, saying a new date would be communicated soon.
“The National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has put on hold the screening of aspirants for the 2025 Elective National Convention, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, due to unforeseen circumstances,” the statement read.
The committee expressed regret over the delay and appealed for understanding among aspirants and members while efforts continue to address the issues that prompted the postponement.
“A new date will be communicated once fixed. The NCOC regrets any inconvenience caused by the postponement. All aspirants and members of our party should note the foregoing and be guided accordingly,” it added.
Fintiri assured that the committee remains committed to ensuring a transparent and credible process leading to the convention.
“The NCOC remains focused on delivering a credible, hitch-free 2025 Elective National Convention on Saturday, 15th to Sunday, 16th November, 2025, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital,” he stated.
The PDP’s 2025 Elective National Convention — billed to hold in Ibadan — is expected to draw top party leaders, governors, and stakeholders from across the country as the opposition party seeks to reorganise its national leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Monday, former Jigawa State Governor and PDP chieftain Lamido threatened to take legal action against the party if he was not granted access to purchase nomination forms ahead of the forthcoming national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Lamido, while speaking with journalists in Abuja after his attempt to obtain the PDP National Chairman nomination form proved unsuccessful, disclosed that both the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature, were not involved in the matter.
In their brief remarks, Anyanwu and Bature disclosed that as party officials, they have not come across any nomination forms since the commencement of preparations for the upcoming convention.
However, North’s consensus candidate for the PDP National Chairman and former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Turaki, formally submitted his nomination form, pledging to entrench fairness, discipline, and stability within the party if elected at the forthcoming national convention.
During its 102nd National Executive Committee meeting held on August 25 in Abuja, the PDP agreed to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while allocating the position of National Chairman to the North.
Following this decision, northern leaders met over the weekend and further micro-zoned the chairmanship position to the North-West.
Subsequently, northern PDP governors, led by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, along with other party leaders, endorsed Turaki as the consensus candidate for National Chairman from the North.
However, some northern stakeholders reportedly loyal to Lamido and led by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, expressed dissatisfaction, alleging that they were not consulted before the endorsement.
In a separate development, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is reportedly supporting his ally and former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, for the same position.
Lamido, who arrived at the secretariat with his supporters shortly after 11 am, said he was surprised to find most offices locked, with no officials available to attend to him.
Although the National Convention Organising Committee, chaired by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, is currently operating from the PDP’s annexe office at Legacy House, Maitama, Lamido insisted that the forms should have been made available at the party headquarters as required by its constitution.
He said, “Well, let me be very clear. You see, the PDP is a family of wonderful Nigerians who share a similar commitment to Nigeria and democracy. So, coming here is like coming home to the family. There’s nothing new about it.
“Secondly, because we are now going into a convention, and by the party constitution, the sale of forms is normally at the party headquarters, I came here to purchase my own form.
“Well, I went to the office of the National Organising Secretary, which is normally the office where the forms are sold, and the office was locked. I think it was officially locked, you know, because of his own position. So, I met him with the Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
“I said, ‘Look, I’m here to buy the form.’ Both of them said they had no idea where the forms were — not even how they were printed or the kind of forms they were. They had no idea where they were being sold. So, I found it a little bit weird that the custodian of the system, who is the National Organising Secretary, was also being locked out. So, they may not be able to go into the office.”
Lamido said he was unaware of any such announcement, describing the matter as a family affair without controversy or division.
He added, “No, the closing date for the sale of forms has been extended. In any case, all decisions of the party must be made by the NEC. You know, any change of date or time must be approved by the NEC. But somehow, I think the entire function of the NEC has been taken over by individuals. Therefore, we’ll find out how it’s going to work out.
“I am an optimist. You know, it’s a family thing. We’ll never fight, no matter what, because we want to win the election. If we fight, we’ll lose. You know, our opponents are outside, the APC and their evil system. APC, not PDP. So, if you don’t have an organised house with a very, very organised force, how do you fight it out?
“That is why I am trying to buy the form. And if I don’t get the form, I will go to court simply. The PDP should be able to organise its own house, to run the party based on its policies, doing the right thing at all times. The only way we can win is by having a party that is disciplined. If the party is not organised, if we don’t follow our own constitution and procedures, how do we win elections?”
Lamido stated his primary goal is to see the PDP rebuilt into a stable and united family capable of staying focused on the larger mission of rescuing Nigeria and Nigerians from the APC.
The PDP chieftain rejected the governors’ consensus arrangement, stating that it was reached without any form of consultation.
Lamido stated, “If there are consultations, there can be consensus. But if there are no consultations, then we are not united on board. I mean, the zone which I come from has never met.
“We were supposed to meet on Wednesday, and I think the Governor of Zamfara booked the hall at the Hilton for us from the North West to meet, to be able to come out with that kind of understanding. But then, to pre-empt our meeting, they fixed a meeting for Tuesday. So, we never met. The zone never met. That’s the problem.”
Earlier, while receiving former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido at the PDP National Secretariat, the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the nomination forms and vowed to ensure that the alleged forgery of his signature was thoroughly investigated.
He stated, “On the issue of forgery, I have established that it is under investigation, and so I don’t want to comment on that. I don’t want to go into that because the issue of forgery is not something that can be swept under the carpet. But I can tell you, I will get to the end of it.”
Speaking on preparations for the convention, Anyanwu confirmed his intention to contest for election but lamented that neither he nor other top officials had seen the nomination forms.
“On the convention, I have the intention to run for the election, but we don’t know where the forms are. We have agreed on the zoning arrangement that the positions in the South should remain in the South and those in the North should remain in the North. So, there is no issue regarding micro-zoning that they are talking about.
“Usually, how it is done in a political party, when I wanted to contest as Secretary, I printed posters and went from state to state to canvass for votes. So, when you buy a form, you move to the states and canvass for delegates to vote for you. I have never seen this kind of arrangement before, where even the National Secretary of the party has not seen the colour of the form — whether it is white, red, or black.”
In his brief remarks, the National Organising Secretary, Bature, corroborated Anyanwu’s account, saying he too had not seen the forms since the process began.
“I have not seen the forms since the process started, even as the Organising Secretary of the party,” Bature said. “I learned that Governor Fintiri’s committee is in charge.”
However, in a separate development, a PDP chieftain and ally of Turaki, Umar Sani, presented to journalists an acknowledgement slip confirming the submission of Turaki’s nomination forms for the position of National Chairman at the National Convention Organising Committee Headquarters, Legacy House, Abuja.
The development came just hours after Lamido claimed he was denied access to purchase the forms.
Sani, a North-West party leader and key member of Turaki’s camp, dismissed claims that Turaki’s emergence as the North’s consensus candidate lacked consultation, insisting that all stakeholders were duly carried along.
He stated, “Today, being the 27th of October, 2025 — the final day for the submission of nomination forms — Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has fulfilled all righteousness and has duly submitted the nomination forms and all other required documents. These forms have been duly acknowledged, a copy of which is here for you to see. So what we are awaiting now is for the party to invite Kabiru Tanimu Turaki for screening.
“First, let me say this: today is not a day for selling forms. Today is a day for the submission of forms. So if Sule Lamido went to Wadata Plaza looking for forms, he went to the wrong place, because the party has stipulated which day you are supposed to go and buy forms and which day you are supposed to submit them. So, we have just submitted ours.
“Also, there is a controversy between the decision of the governors and some stakeholders who endorsed Turaki as the consensus candidate and some other members from the same region who said they were never consulted and therefore do not agree with Turaki’s endorsement.
“Consultations have been done because there was a meeting. It was not something that was announced. A meeting was held with all the relevant stakeholders in all the states in the North, adequately represented. The Governor of Zamfara State was there, and the Governor of Adamawa State, Fintiri, was there. I’m sure most of you know the meeting, so I don’t have to spoon-feed you with the information. And in that meeting, even the Governor of Taraba, who was not there, was represented by a Senator. So they were all there, and the candidates were all there.”
Sani stated that the former minister had no fear of any contender, stressing that other aspirants who obtained nomination forms were equally entitled to exercise their rights within the party.
He said, “Well, let me start by telling you that Kabiru Tanimu Turaki is not afraid of anybody. He has not changed from the PDP. He knows the internal workings of the PDP. So, for anybody to believe that he is afraid of anybody, he is not afraid of anybody.
“He has been in this party for a very long time. He has never aspired to become a House of Representatives member, a Senator, or a Governor — only that he once aspired to become President. And even during that presidential bid, when he was defeated at the primaries in Port Harcourt, he still served as the Director of Administration and Finance of the Presidential Campaign Council. So, he is very much aware that he has a responsibility.
“He has always been in the party and has always made meaningful contributions where needed — legally, financially, and otherwise. Now, if he is entrusted with the responsibility of leading the party, he will put the PDP on a sound footing because he is neutral.
“This is what the governors are talking about. He is neither with Wike nor the Governors’ Forum. Turaki SAN will be fair to all; he will stabilise the party and ensure discipline. He is an independent-minded person, and we believe he will bring his wealth of experience, gathered over the years as both a legal practitioner and a former Minister of Special Duties — a position that demands versatility and balance in handling diverse responsibilities.”
…Denies Government Involvement in NDC Airport, Secretariat Incidents
…Says Mbah’s Performance Sufficient to Secure Re-election in Free, Fair Polls
The Enugu State Government has alleged that some opposition elements are plotting to bring armed thugs and bandits into the state to create panic and portray Enugu as insecure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, made the allegation on Sunday during a press conference at the Government House, Enugu, where he addressed two incidents involving the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the party’s state secretariat in Enugu on Saturday.
Onyia denied any involvement of the state government or Governor Peter Mbah’s Chief Security Officer, Ifeanyi Osondu, in either incident. He described the airport confrontation as a matter between the NDC and federal authorities, while noting that the shooting incident at the party’s secretariat was under police investigation.
According to the SSG, the government’s preliminary findings indicated that the airport incident followed the NDC’s attempt to hold what it described as a “Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026” at the facility without obtaining the necessary approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He said the party had publicised the event and invited members and supporters to attend, including through the Facebook page of its governorship candidate in the state.
Onyia explained that the police had advised the party to obtain FAAN’s approval before security personnel could be deployed to the airport for the event.
“Further findings, however, revealed that the NDC did not secure the approval of FAAN to host a grand statewide rally at its facility. Security agencies, therefore, advised the organisers of the rally to rethink it,” he said.
The SSG alleged that the party proceeded to mobilise its members to the airport and attempted to gain entry into the facility, resulting in a confrontation with airport authorities.
He said security agencies intervened to disperse what he described as “riotous” party members and restore order around the airport, which he characterised as a strategic national asset.
Onyia added that the state government’s account was consistent with a statement issued by the Enugu State Police Command on Sunday.
NDC Secretariat Shooting
Addressing the shooting incident at the NDC state secretariat in the GRA area of Enugu, Onyia said security reports had confirmed that a violent clash occurred at the party’s office and that the police were investigating the matter.
He disputed reports of fatalities, claiming that the government’s preliminary findings indicated that no one had died in the incident.
According to him, a 43-year-old man, identified as Ifeanyi Nworie, sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, where he was stabilised before being transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, for further examination.
“We can, therefore, authoritatively report that there were no deaths as falsely claimed by some reports and NDC leaders,” he said.
Onyia also rejected allegations that the governor’s Chief Security Officer was present at the party secretariat and supervised the shooting. He maintained that Osondu was with Governor Mbah at the Teachers Grassroots Movement mega rally at Okpara Square, Enugu, when the incident occurred.
The SSG further criticised the reported observance of a minute’s silence for an individual he claimed was still alive, describing it as an attempt to mislead the public for political gain.
Reaffirming the government’s position, Onyia said Mbah had sworn to protect the lives and property of all residents, irrespective of their religious beliefs or political affiliations.
He said the administration’s ambition to grow Enugu into a $30 billion economy and make it a preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living depended significantly on sustained peace and security.
According to him, this commitment informed the government’s substantial investments in security infrastructure and operations over the past three years.
“Consequently, the Enugu State Government strongly condemns in its entirety any form of violence, including politically induced violence in the state. We welcome healthy debate and freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” he said.
He urged political parties and their candidates to exercise restraint and embrace issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.
The SSG maintained that democratic rights should be exercised responsibly, arguing that political parties ought to serve as models of decorum and integrity.
He questioned the decision to announce a statewide campaign flag-off at the airport without obtaining approval from the relevant authorities.
“Without holding brief for FAAN, is it not sheer rascality to attempt to hold a ‘Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026’ of the NDC at the airport as publicised by the party and its gubernatorial candidate, especially without the approval by the appropriate authorities?
“Is it not equally gross mischief and a sign of political desperation to hold a minute’s silence for a living person, just to mislead the public for political traction?” he queried.
Government Alleges Opposition Plot
Onyia accused opposition elements in Enugu of attempting to create the impression that the state was unsafe and that the government was intolerant of opposing political parties.
He alleged that some opposition groups had been attributing internal disagreements and violent clashes to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Citing an incident at Obuofia in Nkanu West Local Government Area on September 12, 2026, the SSG claimed that investigations had identified the alleged perpetrators and that the police were prosecuting them.
He described the opposition as factionalised and alleged that some of its members were attempting to draw the state government into controversies to gain political relevance.
Onyia reiterated the government’s allegation that some opposition elements were plotting to bring armed thugs and bandits into Enugu to create panic and undermine public confidence in the state’s security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We, however, make bold to say that the peace and security we have achieved in Enugu State in the last three years, and at huge material costs and sacrifices by our security agents, are non-negotiable and irreversible,” he said.
The SSG said the Mbah administration remained committed to protecting citizens’ democratic rights, including the freedom to campaign for and vote for candidates of their choice in the forthcoming elections.
He described the right of residents to elect their leaders through free, fair and credible polls as fundamental to the state’s democratic development.
Mbah’s Performance and 2027 Re-election Bid
Onyia expressed confidence that Mbah would secure a second term, citing what he described as the governor’s performance and delivery on campaign promises.
He said the administration had no reason to resort to desperate measures, insisting that its record in office would form the basis of its appeal to voters for a renewed mandate.
“Indeed, these inalienable rights of Ndi Enugu to elect their leaders in free, fair and credible polls are our surest hope for re-election come 2027,” he said.
Politics
2027: Over 30,000 Enugu Teachers Endorse Mbah, Tinubu, Cite Welfare Improvements, Increased Education Funding
Teachers across public and private schools in Enugu State have endorsed Governor Peter Mbah for a second term in office, citing improved welfare, timely promotions, increased education funding and other interventions by his administration.
The teachers also endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose economic reforms, according to Mbah, had made more resources available to states to undertake major projects, including the construction of over 267 Smart Green Schools across the 260 political wards of Enugu State.
The teachers declared their support through a rally organised by the Teachers for Grassroots Movement (TGM), with over 12,000 members marching through parts of Enugu metropolis before converging on Okpara Square, Enugu, on Saturday for the endorsement event.
Speaking at the rally, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Theophilus Odo, described Mbah as a Godsend, highlighting measures taken by the governor to address longstanding challenges in the state’s education sector.
“On behalf of the NUT, I want to say that we are happy today because God has given us a caring governor, Peter Mbah,” Odo said.
He noted that Mbah had supported the domestication of harmonised retirement benefits for teachers even before becoming governor.
“The building of over 260 Smart Green Schools is a very positive change. Our teachers and children can now compete favourably with their peers in other places,” he said.
Odo added that the administration had commenced the recruitment of thousands of teachers while investing in professional development through symposiums and other training programmes.
“There are no outstanding promotions, and our salaries are coming at the appropriate time.
“So, we, the teachers, are endorsing our governor for a second term in office. The votes of our teachers are only for Governor Mbah,” he declared.
In his remarks, the Enugu State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Nelson Agu, said private school teachers were participating in such a rally in the state for the first time to show support for what he described as Mbah’s revolution in the education sector.
He said the introduction of Smart Green Schools had challenged private school proprietors to upgrade their facilities and improve educational standards.
“When you came and started the idea of over 260 Smart Green Schools, we thought we were out of service. But we went and upgraded our schools to meet the required standards,” Agu said.
He also commended the administration’s allocation of 33 per cent of the state budget to education for three consecutive years.
“Importantly, the idea of allocating 33 per cent of the budget to the education sector for three consecutive years is something to laud your administration for,” he added.
The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Enugu State, Simeon Akaeme, said the Mbah administration had restored the dignity of teachers and improved their living conditions through investments in infrastructure and social services.
Similarly, the Director-General of TGM, Dr. Nwakaego Aja, described education as a pathway to liberation, self-reliance and economic development, particularly amid the systemic challenges confronting the country.
Aja assured the governor of the support of the movement’s over 30,000 members, saying the administration’s education reforms had demonstrated the role of education in driving economic growth.
“Through experiential learning and innovation, you brought answers to the quest by our nationalists, elevating education to a catalyst for economic development,” she said.
“We, the teachers, are not ingrates. We see what you are doing. You promised disruptive innovation, and you have delivered disruptive innovation. That is why we are here.
“We promise you this: we will take your good news to the communities, to the staff rooms, to every market, to every polling unit, and we will deliver. Our vote is for the All Progressives Congress (APC) from bottom to top,” she added.
The Enugu State Commissioner for Education and patron of TGM, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, described the endorsement by thousands of teachers as an indication of the broader support expected for Governor Mbah and President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the teachers, he thanked the governor for prioritising education and investing resources in creating better opportunities for children across the state.
“On behalf of every teacher gathered here today, I have one message, and that is to thank you for believing and investing in the vision that it is through education that Enugu State will attain greater heights. You have committed so many resources to giving every Enugu child a future,” he said.
In his address, Governor Mbah said the endorsement was significant beyond the 2027 elections, stressing that the success of his administration’s development agenda depended largely on teachers and the education system.
“Today’s endorsement carries a particular significance, and that is because everything we do, all the promises we have made, all the projections we have made — growing Enugu’s economy, becoming one of the top three states in terms of GDP, making Enugu State the number one state in terms of investment, business, living and tourism — are in the hands of our teachers,” he said.
The governor said his administration’s investments in education included the construction of over 7,000 classrooms, the provision of 25,000 desktop computers and more than 5,000 tablets, as well as free feeding and uniforms for pupils.
He added that the government was focused on transforming the state’s education system rather than merely providing infrastructure and learning materials.
“For us, it is about transformation — transforming an education system. And that whole transformation, whether we fail or succeed, would lie largely in your hands,” Mbah said.
He expressed appreciation for teachers’ contributions to the state’s development, acknowledging the challenges they face in educating children and preparing them for the future.
“That is why, when I say that I see you and I value you, it comes from the depths of my heart because I understand what you go through to inculcate this knowledge into our children so that we can become that great state. So, we love you and appreciate you dearly,” he added.
The governor’s wife, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, represented by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, described the endorsement as a strong affirmation of an administration that had placed education at the centre of its development agenda.
The rally was attended by senior government officials, political and community leaders, and other stakeholders.
…Says 2027 Election Will End Politics of Godfatherism, Privilege in Ebonyi
BY PETRUS OBI
Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, witnessed an extraordinary political reception as thousands of enthusiastic supporters trooped out to welcome the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, on his return to the state.
From the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, where a large crowd gathered to receive him, to Abakaliki, where another mammoth crowd assembled, Odii’s arrival generated considerable excitement among supporters, temporarily bringing activities in parts of the state capital to a standstill.
The reception took another dimension at a filling station in Abakaliki, where the PDP candidate reportedly treated supporters who gathered to welcome him to free fuel, with beneficiaries driving away with filled tanks.
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Odii urged Ebonyi residents, irrespective of their places of origin, to prepare for what he described as a tough but decisive political battle ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
He expressed confidence that the collective determination of the people would ultimately prevail, insisting that the forthcoming election represents a defining moment in the political history of the state.
According to him, his governorship ambition is not driven by personal interests but by a determination to rescue Ebonyi from years of missed opportunities and alleged mismanagement of public resources.
Odii described his Anyi G’ Emeya movement as a people-driven mission aimed at restoring accountable leadership, creating economic opportunities and building an inclusive government that works for every Ebonyi resident.
Cheering supporters
Free fuel for all
He assured supporters that the deployment of modern technology and competent technology experts to monitor electoral activities across polling units would make electoral manipulation increasingly difficult.
The PDP candidate consequently urged eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and remain vigilant throughout the electoral process.
Speaking further, Odii declared that his achievements in business had already placed him in a position to enjoy extraordinary comfort and luxury anywhere in the world without seeking political office.
He explained that he could have chosen a life of leisure, travelling in luxury yachts and private aircraft, rather than subjecting himself to the demands and challenges of political leadership.
However, he maintained that his decision to contest the governorship election was informed by a greater desire to create an Ebonyi State where opportunities would no longer be the exclusive preserve of the politically connected.
Odii said his vision was to build a society where children from poor families could aspire to become governors, ministers, lawmakers and other prominent public officeholders on the strength of their intelligence, competence, leadership qualities and personal accomplishments.
He condemned a political culture in which access to opportunities and public offices is perceived to depend on family connections, influential relatives, in-laws or powerful political godfathers.
The PDP standard-bearer insisted that Ebonyi must embrace a new political order where merit, fairness and equal opportunity, rather than privilege and political patronage, determine the future of its citizens.
He called on supporters to remain united and committed to the Anyi G’ Emeya movement, expressing optimism that the 2027 election would usher in a new era of leadership in Ebonyi State.
ABAKALIKI — The camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has dismissed reports suggesting that he may withdraw from the 2027 Ebonyi State governorship race and support Governor Francis Nwifuru.
In a statement signed by Odii’s spokesperson, Chief Emmanuel Chidi Igwe, the campaign described the reported withdrawal as false, insisting that Odii remains committed to contesting the election.
According to Igwe, “Chief Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii will never, under any condition, step down from the 2027 governorship contest.”
The statement said Odii’s political camp remains focused on what it described as its campaign position: “Odii must run and win.”
It added that any political discussions, persuasion or negotiations involving other individuals should not be interpreted as a decision by Odii to abandon his governorship ambition.
Camp Rejects Withdrawal Narrative
The Odii camp further described reports of a possible withdrawal as a political narrative allegedly being promoted by individuals opposed to his candidacy.
Igwe challenged those behind the reports to produce evidence showing that Odii had personally announced his withdrawal from the race.
“There is a fundamental difference between reporting that a politician intends to persuade Chief Odii to withdraw and reporting that Chief Odii has agreed to withdraw,” the statement said, stressing that the latter would require evidence from the candidate himself.
The spokesperson also urged journalists, bloggers and online publishers to maintain professional standards when reporting political developments, warning against presenting speculation or the intentions of third parties as established decisions by political candidates.
24-Hour Retraction Demand
The camp has consequently demanded that publishers of the alleged withdrawal story retract or prominently correct their reports within 24 hours, unless they can produce an authentic statement from Odii confirming that he has decided to withdraw from the 2027 contest.
The statement also reminded online publishers of their responsibilities under Nigerian law, citing the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended, as well as other laws relating to unlawful online publications and defamatory material.
The spokesperson clarified that the reference to the law was not intended as a threat against legitimate journalism or political criticism, but as a reminder that political disagreements should remain within the bounds of the law.
The statement concluded by reaffirming that Odii remains in the 2027 governorship race and urged members of the public to regard reports of his withdrawal as unverified unless supported by a direct statement from him.
By Petrus Obi, London
London — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Odii, has intensified his criticism of the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru, insisting that the people of the state deserve a different approach to governance.
Odii, who spoke with EverydayNewsngr.net in London, said what he described as the “fire brigade approach” of the Nwifuru administration was not the kind of governance Ebonyi needs.
According to him, the state requires a government with a clear vision, long-term planning and the capacity to deliver meaningful development to its people.
“The fire brigade approach of the Nwifuru government is not what the state needs,” Odii said.
He added: “I am coming to bring a new lease of life to my people.”
Odii’s comments come amid renewed political debate in Ebonyi State following the recent removal of the state Commissioner for Works. The development has attracted attention from opposition circles, with critics using it to question aspects of the administration’s handling of governance and infrastructure.
The PDP chieftain said the people of Ebonyi should expect more than what he described as reactive governance, arguing that development should be driven by a coherent programme capable of producing lasting results.
He maintained that his political ambition was motivated by a desire to provide what he described as purposeful leadership and improve the welfare of residents across the state.
“We deserve better government in Ebonyi State,” Odii said, stressing that his vision was centred on giving the people renewed confidence in government and creating opportunities for them to prosper.
As political activities ahead of the next governorship election continue to gather momentum, governance, infrastructure, accountability and the delivery of public services are expected to feature prominently in the emerging contest.
Odii’s intervention in London is likely to add further momentum to the political conversation, particularly as opposition figures seek to distinguish their vision for Ebonyi from that of the incumbent administration.
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