The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed speculations that aspirants in Ebonyi State have been barred from participating in the political process ahead of the 2027 general elections, reaffirming his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru.
Umahi, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, said there was no directive from the President stopping any aspirant from purchasing nomination forms.
“I have spoken to Mr President and our governor, and there was no instruction from Mr President that those who want to contest elections in Ebonyi State should be shut off from buying forms,” he stated.
The former Ebonyi State governor, however, reiterated his political alignment in the state, maintaining that his support remains with Governor Nwifuru, who he said has been adopted as the party’s sole candidate.
“However, in Ebonyi State, my support is to the governor as we have adopted him as sole candidate. This is the position of Mr President nationwide, and our governor agrees with me,” Umahi said.
He stressed the need for internal democracy and urged party members to embrace dialogue and peaceful engagement to sustain unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, Governor Nwifuru should lead a consultative process aimed at achieving consensus among aspirants, noting that where consensus fails, direct primaries should be conducted.
“Dialogue and negotiation should be adopted by the governor to possibly reach consensus among all aspirants, and where consensus is not reached, then direct primaries must take place,” he added.
Umahi further clarified that his loyalty is strictly to the party leadership and not to any individual aspirant.
“I have no interest in any aspirant other than my support for the governor and the president. Consensus is only among aspirants supervised by the leader of the party, the governor,” he said.
He emphasized that unity remains critical to the success of the party, urging members to work collectively ahead of the 2027 polls.
“This position is to keep the party we have suffered to build together and ensure that we are united to deliver massive votes for all our candidates, especially the president and the governor. No one person can do this alone. We need one another,” Umahi said.
