By Jeremiah Aguiyi
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Uchenna Stephen Igwe, has attributed the wave of rural infrastructure development across the state to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru's early implementation of financial autonomy for local government councils.
Igwe made the assertion on Monday at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the August 22, 2026 local government elections held at Nwanoyo Stadium, Ikwo Local Government Area.
The commissioner, while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the rally, commended Governor Nwifuru for prioritising grassroots development through the People's Charter of Needs agenda, saying the policy had accelerated the execution of people-oriented projects in communities across the 13 local government areas and 64 development centres of the state.
According to him, the governor commenced the implementation of local government financial autonomy long before the Federal Government's directive, enabling councils to undertake projects that directly impact rural dwellers.
"As the All Progressives Congress flags off the local government election campaigns today, it is important that I commend the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for making grassroots development a priority through the implementation of local government financial autonomy in Ebonyi State, which the governor began long before the presidential directive on the matter," Igwe said.
He disclosed that he had recently completed an inspection tour of all the 13 local government areas and 64 development centres, where he observed extensive infrastructural development at the grassroots.
"I can authoritatively attest to the great developmental projects at the hinterlands of Ebonyi State. From Ebonyi North through Ebonyi Central to Ebonyi South, my team saw many markets, bridges, schools, health centres, rural roads, police stations and rural electrification projects already completed.
"Those life-enhancing projects at the villages and hinterlands are direct offshoots of the Ebonyi People's Charter of Needs administration and they complement the ongoing transformation taking place across the state," he added.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the commissioner said the administration had also empowered rural residents economically, noting that the grassroots development strategy had strengthened the relationship between government and the people while ensuring that no community was left behind.
He urged residents of the state to vote overwhelmingly for APC candidates in the forthcoming local government elections and the 2027 general elections to sustain the pace of development.
"The people should continue to support and vote for all candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the 2026 local government elections and the 2027 general elections. That is the only way to sustain the comprehensive development currently being witnessed across Ebonyi State under Governor Nwifuru's administration," Igwe said.
Governor Francis Nwifuru officially flagged off the APC campaign through his deputy, Princess Patricia Obila, who represented him at the event.
The rally featured the presentation of the APC flag to the party's Ikwo Local Government chairmanship candidate, Hon. Henry Chidi Nwode, alongside the 20 councillorship candidates for the local government area.
Thousands of APC supporters, party faithful, traditional leaders, women, youths and political stakeholders from Ikwo and other parts of Ebonyi State attended the rally, which was marked by cultural displays, solidarity marches and campaign activities ahead of the August 22 council polls.
