The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ebonyi State chapter, has endorsed Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for a second term in office, pledging to mobilise youths across the state to secure massive votes for him in the 2027 governorship election.
The endorsement was announced on Tuesday by the state NYCN Chairman, Comrade Douglas Ochishi, shortly after a youth road walk which commenced from Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, and moved through major parts of the Abakaliki metropolis before terminating at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat.
Ochishi said the endorsement followed the council's assessment of projects and programmes executed by the Nwifuru administration as part of activities marking the 2026 International Youth Week.
He said the council had, in the course of its activities, embarked on project sightseeing to enable youths assess the performance of the state government and make informed decisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, "today, we made a firm decision that due to the laudable and lofty achievements of this current administration led by His Excellency, Right Honourable Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, we, the Nigerian youth of Ebonyi State, firmly endorse him for a second term in office."
He urged youths in the state to obtain and safeguard their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing that the ballot remained an important instrument for determining who governs the state.
Ochishi said: "We are calling all the meaningful youths of the state to go and dust off their voter's cards ahead of the upcoming general election."
The NYCN chairman also declared the council's support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other candidates of the APC, urging youths to participate actively in elections at the presidential, National Assembly, State House of Assembly and local government levels.
He said the council's assessment of government projects had exposed it to what he described as "amazing" developments across the state.
Ochishi listed projects and interventions in areas including infrastructure, education, aviation, pension payments and scholarships, among others.
He particularly cited ongoing developments at the University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe, the state's airport project and other infrastructure projects, saying that several government initiatives would become more visible upon completion.
"It is an avalanche of programmes being carried out," he said, adding that "our people should be patient. All those things they are expecting will in no distant time come to full manifestation."
Receiving the certificate of endorsement on behalf of the state APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, the party's State Youth Leader, Comrade Prince Ogbonnaya Aloh, commended the NYCN for its position and assured the youth body that its message would be conveyed to the party leadership.
Aloh said the APC would pay greater attention to youths who had worked for the success of the party, stressing that those who contributed to the party's activities should not be neglected.
He said the endorsement demonstrated the confidence of the youth council in the administration and pledged to communicate its demands and expectations to the party leadership.
Also speaking, the APC State Youth Leader described Nwifuru as a governor who had empowered youths through various initiatives, including scholarship opportunities.
He urged the youths to support the governor, declaring that they would stand behind his second-term bid.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria (MTUN), Ebonyi State chapter, Comrade Nicholas Ekuma, expressed the readiness of motorcycle operators in the state to support Nwifuru's re-election bid.
Ekuma commended the governor for what he described as measures that had eased the burden of multiple taxation on motorcycle operators, promising that members of the union would mobilise massively for the governor in the 2027 election.
The youth road walk and endorsement formed part of activities organised by the Ebonyi State NYCN to mark the 2026 International Youth Week, which was flagged off on August 6.
The NYCN state leadership said the activities were designed to encourage youths to participate actively in governance, assess government policies and programmes, and make informed choices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
