The National President of the Ebonyi South Youths Assembly (ESYA), Comrade Odii Njoku, has said that without the zoning arrangement that has shaped the state's political evolution since its creation, Ebonyi South would never have produced a governor.
Njoku stated this on Wednesday in a statement issued in Abakaliki while responding to a publication titled, "2027 Governorship: How PDP Guber Candidate's Unparalleled Political Influence is Giving Ebonyi APC Sleepless Nights," which projected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, as the likely winner of the 2027 governorship election.
He described the publication as "misleading, historically inaccurate and speculative," arguing that it ignored the role zoning has played in promoting equity, fairness and political stability in Ebonyi State.
"It is both misleading and historically inaccurate to suggest that zoning has never played a significant role in Ebonyi politics. Since the creation of Ebonyi State, the governorship has rotated among the three senatorial zones, thereby promoting equity, fairness, inclusion and peaceful coexistence," Njoku said.
According to him, those dismissing the zoning principle had failed to acknowledge that the arrangement created the opportunity for Ebonyi South to produce a governor.
"Without that principle, Ebonyi South would most likely never have produced a governor," he said.
The ESYA president cited the political career of the late former Governor of old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, as evidence that political influence and popularity alone do not guarantee electoral success.
He noted that despite Onu's political stature, financial strength and widespread support, he was unable to secure the Ebonyi governorship, losing first to the state's pioneer civilian governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, and later failing again when Chief Martin Elechi emerged governor.
"It was only after the governorship had rotated through Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi North that the office came to Ebonyi South, producing Engr. David Nweze Umahi as the third civilian governor," he stated.
Njoku also defended the emergence of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, saying the governor assumed office through what he described as an orderly political transition anchored on the state's established political understanding.
He said Nwifuru brought to office years of legislative experience, having served two terms as Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly before his election as governor.
According to him, the administration has recorded achievements in education, healthcare, infrastructure development, industrialisation, youth empowerment, workers' welfare and human capital development under its People's Charter of Needs agenda.
He further credited the administration with strengthening peace and security across the state through inclusive governance and strategic interventions.
"Most applauded among his achievements remain his remarkable efforts in peace building and the security of the state. Through deliberate engagement, inclusive governance and strategic interventions, Ebonyi has continued to enjoy relative peace and stability," Njoku said.
The youth leader rejected claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was unsettled by the opposition ahead of the 2027 governorship election, insisting that the party remained united and confident.
"The APC remains united, focused and confident because it has verifiable achievements to present before the electorate rather than relying on exaggerated political narratives," he stated.
Njoku also dismissed allegations that opposition supporters were being systematically intimidated in the state, maintaining that Ebonyi remained peaceful and that citizens enjoyed the constitutional right to associate freely with political parties.
He further rejected claims that the state had witnessed no meaningful development under the current administration, pointing to ongoing investments in road infrastructure, education, healthcare, housing, agriculture, industrial development, scholarship programmes, workers' welfare, pension and gratuity payments across the 13 local government areas.
Calling for civility ahead of the 2027 general elections, Njoku urged political actors to focus on issues rather than propaganda and personal attacks.
"Political campaigns should be based on facts, ideas and alternative programmes, not falsehoods, personality cults and premature declarations of victory," he said.
He added that the outcome of the 2027 governorship election would ultimately be determined by the electorate through the ballot.
"The 2027 governorship election will not be determined by newspaper headlines, social media campaigns or political slogans. It will be decided by the people of Ebonyi State through the ballot box," Njoku stated.
