A group, operating under the auspices of All Ebonyians In Diaspora, has thrown its weight behind the governorship candidacy of the All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate, in the 2023 general elections in Ebonyi State, Prof. Benard Odoh.
The group said it took the decision based on the general qualities and popularity of all the candidates, saying, however, that Odoh stood out, from others.
The President-General, Dan Nwibo and the Secretary-General, Ogbonnaya Ngene, among others, stated this in a statement, a copy of which was made available to journalists, on Wednesday.
The statement read partly, "We have also accessed the track record, acceptability and general competencies of our sons and daughters who are vying for the office of the governor of Ebonyi State. Suffice it to say, that they are all eminently qualified. Unfortunately, only a party pair can occupy the governorship position at a time. Consequently, we are faced with the realities of life, that is, choice-making.
"As a body, the All Ebonyians in Diaspora have taken our decision based on the general qualities and popularity of these candidates. We are also in consideration of the Ebonyi Charter of Equity which has always guided our decision in choosing the governorship candidates since 1999.
6. Consequently, All Ebonyians in Diaspora resolved to present a common front and recommend the candidates of APGA, Prof. Benard Odo and his Deputy Dr Nkata Chuku to Ebonyians, both at home and in the diaspora, as our candidates for the election.
"We also wish to state that this decision is devoid of any ethnic or clannish disposition as the diaspora (including its leadership) constitute Ebonyians across all the three senatorial zones and all the tribes/clans that constitute our great state.
"Having found the APGA governorship ticket worthy, AED encourage all Ebonyians at home to support and vote en masse for the Odoh/Nkata ticket, without deference to any undemocratic biases as the Odoh/Nkata ticket provides a glimmer of hope for our state, and we believe that protecting the interest of the state rather than individual, political party, or clannish interests is a more effective pathway to sustainable development and prosperity of Ebonyi State.
It added, "We urge all Ebonyians to rise and ensure that the electoral process is free, fair and peaceful and that the votes of the people count. AED hereby discourages any act capable of derailing our democracy, such as vote buying, intimidation, or violence.
"As we head into the general elections, AED is keenly watching every happenstance in our dear state to ensure that all the contending factions of the polity are given due freedom to operate as expected from a democratic system. AED assures Ebonyians that only Ebonyians and God can determine who leads Ebonyi State from May 29, 2023. Yet, we must play our respective roles to birth a competent and effective government. To do this, we must vote and protect our vote on election day.
"We dissuade anyone or authority from the imposition of candidate(s), or use of state apparatus to hound perceived oppositions. Anyone nursing ambitions to undermine the elections should perish such ideas because our democratic evolution has gone beyond such primitive intentions and approaches. For posterity’s sake, we encourage even approaches to play by the rules set out by the electoral umpire, INEC and by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended."
