The Ebonyi South Youths Assembly (ESYA) has cautioned against what it described as attempts to turn the 2027 Ebonyi State governorship election into a political spectacle driven by celebrity endorsements, external influence and social-media mobilisation.
The National President of the organisation, Comrade Odii Njoku, gave the warning while reacting to reports that Nigerian Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, had expressed support for the governorship aspiration of Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks, whom the singer reportedly described as his “next project” in Ebonyi.
Njoku, in a statement made available to journalists, said Ebonyi State was not a political betting ground where the democratic choices of its citizens could be determined by celebrities, political financiers or individuals who were not resident in the state.
He said the people of Ebonyi were sufficiently politically conscious to determine their preferred candidate through the ballot box, insisting that celebrity popularity should not be confused with grassroots acceptance.
“Ebonyi is not a political betting ground. It is a state with politically discerning people who understand their environment, know their leaders and have the constitutional right to determine who governs them.
“Davido is entitled to his opinion, but he should not mistake celebrity influence for political authority. The political future of Ebonyi belongs to Ebonyians and will be decided by Ebonyians,” Njoku said.
The youth leader also warned Anyichuks against allegedly relying on what he termed “imported political critics” and external voices to prosecute his political campaign, arguing that the 2027 contest should be anchored on direct engagement with the people and verifiable programmes rather than antagonistic rhetoric from outside the state.
According to him, any politician genuinely seeking the mandate of Ebonyians must demonstrate a tangible connection with the state and its people, not foreigners who cannot even cast any vote on the election day.
“You cannot seek to govern Ebonyi effectively from outside Ebonyi. Leadership requires proximity, sacrifice, investment and an enduring relationship with the people.
“Before anybody tells us who should govern Ebonyi, let such a person show us what he has invested in the state, how many young people have been employed through his ventures, how many businesses he has established here and how many vulnerable citizens have benefited from his interventions,” he said.
Njoku maintained that political leadership should not be reduced to the capacity to mobilise financial resources during election periods, describing such an approach as inimical to sustainable development and grassroots democracy.
He said Ebonyi needed leaders who understood the economic realities confronting young people, particularly unemployment, poverty, skills deficits, lack of access to capital and the challenges facing small and medium-scale businesses.
The ESYA president said the state was in need of “home-grown political leadership with demonstrated competence, grassroots legitimacy and a measurable record of service”, rather than politicians who, according to him, only become visible when election season approaches.
He added that the electorate would interrogate the records, policies and antecedents of all contenders before casting their votes in 2027.
Njoku further urged Ebonyi youths not to allow themselves to be manipulated by social-media propaganda, personality politics or financial inducements, stressing that the election should be about development and accountability.
He said: “Our youths are no longer political spectators. They are stakeholders. They want jobs, quality education, functional healthcare, infrastructure, entrepreneurship opportunities, security and an economy that gives them a future.
“They are not interested in celebrity drama. They want to know who has the competence, character and capacity to govern Ebonyi responsibly.”
The youth leader also defended the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, saying the government's People’s Charter of Needs had provided a framework for addressing critical development priorities across the state.
He urged opposition politicians to subject the administration's record to objective scrutiny and present alternative policies rather than resorting to what he described as “political theatrics and character-driven campaigns.”
Njoku equally called on Davido to exercise restraint in his intervention in Ebonyi politics, stressing that political disagreements should not be allowed to degenerate into inflammatory rhetoric capable of aggravating tensions among citizens.
“We respect Davido's contribution to Nigerian entertainment and his standing as a global Nigerian personality. But when it comes to deciding who governs Ebonyi, the decision rests with Ebonyians.
“We welcome constructive ideas from Nigerians everywhere, but nobody should attempt to commandeer the political destiny of our state from outside,” he said.
He insisted that Ebonyi was not Osun State and that political strategies deployed in one state could not automatically be transplanted into another, urging political actors to respect the peculiarities of Ebonyi's political landscape.
Njoku consequently charged Ebonyi youths to defend the integrity of the electoral process and resist any attempt to commodify their votes, saying the 2027 election should be a contest of ideas, competence, accountability and developmental vision.
“Ebonyi is not for political gamblers. Our people will not surrender their future to celebrity endorsements, imported voices or political speculation. The people will decide, and their decision must be respected,” he stated.
NATIONAL PANEL reports that recent reports confirmed that Odii is positioning himself for the 2027 Ebonyi governorship contest, while current Ebonyi political coverage continues to feature competing narratives around Governor Nwifuru and opposition figures.
