Mr Tobias Nnabuike Oriji, the kinsman of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Oriji emerged through a consensus arrangement during the party’s governorship primary election held on Friday across the 171 wards in the state.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the exercise, the ADC governorship flagbearer, who hails from Oferekpe Agbaja community in Izzi Local Government Area, the same community as Governor Nwifuru said his decision to contest the election was driven by the desire to reposition Ebonyi State and address what he described as lapses in governance.
The ADC candidate expressed concern over the state of electricity supply, unemployment and youth empowerment in the state, promising what he described as a comprehensive transformation agenda if elected in 2027.
According to him, his administration would prioritise youth empowerment, agricultural development, economic revitalisation and improved living standards for residents across the state.
“The youths are suffering. If elected governor of the state, I will empower the youths, strengthen agriculture and ensure that people begin to live comfortably,” he stated.
Oriji described himself as a university graduate, businessman and agriculturist with years of experience in private sector engagements, maintaining that he possesses the administrative and leadership capacity required to govern the state.
Speaking on his chances against the ruling All Progressives Congress and Governor Nwifuru in the 2027 governorship contest, the ADC candidate expressed confidence that the opposition party was prepared to take over power in the state.
“I have already defeated him politically. What remains is the swearing-in ceremony. By the grace of God, on May 29, 2027, we shall occupy the Government House. I assure you that ADC will take over Ebonyi State Government House and even Aso Rock,” he declared.
On the financial implications of the governorship race, Oriji insisted that he was adequately prepared for the electoral contest and would not have joined the race without the required resources and political structure.
“If I do not have the resources, I would not have ventured into the race. The nomination form was not free. I paid for it and I am fully prepared for the election,” he added.
Commenting on the performance of Governor Nwifuru’s administration despite their relationship as kinsman, Oriji noted that leadership styles differ from one administration to another, stressing that he would introduce fresh policies and programmes aimed at accelerating development across the state.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Electoral Matters and State Returning Officer of the ADC, Mr. Bassey Edogi Imoke, said the party adopted an electronic register system to ensure credibility and transparency in the conduct of the primary election.
According to him, the party recorded 12,889 registered delegates electronically, while 6,730 delegates were accredited across the 13 local government areas of the state, with 6,400 delegates voting during the exercise.
Imoke explained that the governorship primary was conducted at the ward level in line with directives from the national leadership of the party, adding that results were subsequently collated through local government and state collation centres.
“The figures are verifiable because they are on our electronic portal. We deliberately adopted a transparent process different from the irregular methods often associated with some political parties,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the ADC Primary Election Committee in Ebonyi State, Dr. Paschal Okafor, described the governorship primary as peaceful, orderly and compliant with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“The primary election has been peaceful and orderly. Delegates conducted themselves responsibly, and there has been no rancour. So far, the process is fully in line with the Electoral Act,” Okafor stated.
He explained that the party adopted both consensus and direct primary modes depending on the number of aspirants contesting various positions.
“Where there is only one aspirant, consensus is adopted, while direct primaries are conducted in constituencies with multiple contestants,” he explained.
In the same vein, the Secretary of the Electoral Committee and Deputy National Auditor of the ADC, Princess Nneka Nnebu, commended party officials, delegates and stakeholders for the peaceful conduct of the exercise, noting that no security challenge was recorded throughout the process.
She added that ward and local government executives of the party across the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State actively participated in the exercise.
In her remarks, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the ADC, Dr. Mrs. Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, disclosed that the party had successfully concluded primaries for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate positions across the 171 wards in the state.
Adibe-Nwafor further stated that security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), alongside journalists and other relevant agencies, monitored the governorship primary to ensure transparency and peaceful conduct.
The party chairman expressed confidence that the ADC, which she described as a growing coalition platform with increasing acceptance among the electorate, would record a strong outing in the 2027 general elections in Ebonyi State and across the country.
