A former two-term member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and ex-Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, Barrister Eni Uduma Chima, has emerged as the standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that the era of “elite-driven political imposition” was fading in Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
Eni emerged unopposed during the party’s direct primary election conducted on Sunday in Afikpo, headquarters of the constituency, after polling a total of 306 votes cast by accredited delegates and party faithfuls.
Announcing the results shortly after the exercise, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Barr. Stanley Okoche Nkaa, described the process as peaceful, transparent and reflective of the internal democratic culture of the party.
“At the end of this election and after counting of votes, I, Stanley Okoche Nkaa, as Chairman of the committee, am pleased to announce that Barr. Eni Uduma Chima scored a total of 306 votes to emerge winner unopposed.
“With the powers conferred on me as Chairman of this electoral committee, I hereby declare Hon. Eni Uduma Chima as the winner of this election and consequently returned elected as the party’s candidate for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency,” Nkaa stated.
In his acceptance speech, the PDP flag bearer framed his emergence as part of a broader political realignment aimed at restoring grassroots participation and dismantling entrenched structures of political exclusivity.
According to him, the overwhelming endorsement by party stakeholders represented a renewed social contract between the electorate and the political class.
“The confidence reposed in me and affirmed today by all of you is deeply commendable, and I assure you that the trust placed in me will not be betrayed,” he said.
Reflecting on his political trajectory, Eni disclosed that he had contested six elections and won four, expressing confidence that the 2027 contest would further consolidate his electoral credentials.
“This will be my seventh electoral outing and, by the grace of God and with the support of our people, we shall be victorious. That is why we have returned to the PDP,” he declared.
He further asserted that the nation was witnessing a “shift in political paradigm” capable of transferring power from entrenched elites back to ordinary citizens through participatory democracy and inclusive governance.
“We have entered a status quo flux that will remove power from a privileged few and return it to the masses. The era where a handful of individuals determine who leads the people is gradually coming to an end. That is the true essence of democracy,” he added.
The PDP candidate also pledged to pursue people-oriented representation at the National Assembly if elected, promising to prioritise legislative advocacy, constituency development and effective oversight functions.
Eni, however, revealed that what he described as the “injustice surrounding the zoning arrangement” of the House of Representatives seat to Edda Local Government Area after over two decades of political dominance by Afikpo interests significantly influenced his decision to challenge the prevailing political order.
Earlier, a prominent PDP chieftain, Barr. Mudi Erhenede, expressed optimism over the party’s prospects in the 2027 general elections, insisting that the opposition party remained the most formidable political platform in Ebonyi State.
“Ours is the party to beat in the 2027 elections, and we are determined to return power to the people,” Erhenede stated.
Eni’s emergence comes barely weeks after his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 30, alongside his withdrawal as Chairman of the Board of the Ebonyi Fertilizer Blending Company, a position he had occupied since 2024.
Following his defection, he formally obtained his declaration of interest and nomination forms under the PDP platform, setting the stage for his eventual emergence as the party’s consensus candidate for the Afikpo/Edda federal seat.
