By Victor Nwegede
The endorsement was announced on Thursday at a well-attended gathering held at the forum’s state secretariat, Abakaliki, along Afikpo Road.The event drew top government officials, political actors, business leaders, and youth stakeholders from across the Izzi bloc.
Leading the initiative, the forum’s President, Dr. Chibueze Elom, said the decision followed a rigorous appraisal of the administration’s performance, particularly in infrastructure, human capital development, and social welfare.
“Our endorsement is predicated on empirical assessment. The governor has demonstrated administrative capacity and a clear commitment to people-centred governance. Continuity at this stage is both strategic and necessary,” Elom stated.
He added that the administration had laid a solid foundation that requires consolidation through a second term.
Responding on behalf of the members of State Executive Council from Izzi extraction, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe, described the endorsement as a “historic affirmation” of the administration’s impact and reaffirmed the State Executive Council’s commitment to the governor’s re-election bid.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, Paul Nwogha, commended the forum for what he described as a “well-considered and forward-looking endorsement.”
He assured that the governor would be duly informed and highlighted ongoing efforts to sustain peace, accelerate rural development, and deepen governance reforms.
In the legislature, a member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Joseph Ununu, declared support for the governor’s second-term ambition, emphasizing the need for continuity in governance and policy execution.
At the grassroots level, the Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area, Chinedu Uburu, pledged robust mobilization in support of the governor, assuring that the council would deliver overwhelming electoral backing.
From the private sector and elite circles, the Chairman of the Quarry Owners Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi chapter, and National President of Izzi Elite, Chief Chikaodiri Ojimba, said the endorsement reflected a unified position among Izzi stakeholders.
“There is a consensus among leaders and political actors within Izzi that the governor deserves support to complete his tenure. Fragmentation at this point would be counterproductive,” he said.
Ojimba further cited improvements in the business climate, attributing increased investor confidence to enhanced security and policy stability under the current administration.
The Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Ann Aligwe, highlighted the administration’s inclusive policies, particularly the involvement of women and youth in governance, and pledged continued support from women across the state.
Providing institutional and historical context, the Chairman of the forum’s Board of Trustees, Ben Nwovu, described the endorsement as a generational decision aimed at safeguarding development gains.
Similarly, former President of the forum, Prince Maurice Mbam, said the move was driven by political pragmatism and the need to sustain effective governance.
“It is more productive to support a performing leader than to engage in divisive politics. The administration’s projects and fiscal discipline will become more evident with time,” Mbam said.
In a broader political appeal, a member of the Ebonyi State Board of Internal Revenue, Nwedu Abraham Nwedu, called on other senatorial zones including Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South to support the governor’s re-election bid.
“The Izzi people have historically supported leaders from other zones. This is a moment for reciprocity and collective progress,” he said.
In a decisive resolution, stakeholders at the event agreed that no aspirant of Izzi extraction would contest against Governor Nwifuru, underscoring a strategy of internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political analysts said the endorsement marks a significant step in early coalition-building and could shape alignments across Ebonyi State’s three senatorial zones as the 2027 race gradually takes form.
With growing backing from youth groups, political elites, and institutional actors, the push for Governor Nwifuru’s second term appears to be gaining momentum setting the stage for what may evolve into a broadly coordinated re-election campaign.
