The Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, has taken a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Mr Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii, over his campaign promise to introduce free and compulsory education in the state, saying the policy is already being implemented by the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
Oketa said it was misleading to present free education as a fresh electoral promise when, according to him, the policy had already become a reality in public nursery, primary and secondary schools across Ebonyi State.
The governor’s aide made the position known in a statement posted on his confirmed social media platforms while reacting to Odii’s campaign promises ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Odii, who has been canvassing support for the PDP, recently unveiled a development agenda containing proposals on education, healthcare, agriculture, industrialisation, infrastructure, youth empowerment and economic expansion.
Among other proposals, the PDP candidate promised free and compulsory education from primary through secondary school, as well as free tertiary education for Ebonyians studying medicine, specialised sciences and critical technology-related courses.
He has also spoken of attracting major investments and industries including refineries to the state, including proposals aimed at expanding industrial production, agro-processing and employment opportunities.
But Oketa dismissed the presentation of such interventions as entirely new initiatives, challenging the PDP candidate to undertake more extensive research into what he described as the achievements of the incumbent administration.
“Free education in Ebonyi State’s public schools is not a new campaign promise; it is already a reality.
“Across public nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state, free education has become the norm. The present administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has continued to sustain and deepen investments in education, alongside other interventions aimed at improving access and quality," he said.
He urged Odii and his campaign team to engage more closely with developments in the state before unveiling programmes which, he said, were already receiving government attention.
“Perhaps, with more engagement with developments at home and a little more research, some of these realities would be clearer,” he said.
The governor’s aide further argued that the 2027 contest should not be reduced to a catalogue of promises, insisting that candidates should explain how they intend to consolidate existing interventions or introduce measurable improvements.
“Sir, there is absolutely no need to reinvent what is already being done. We love what we have. The things you intend to do for the people of Ebonyi are already receiving attention under Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s administration and in several areas, the government is doing even more,” Oketa said.
He also referenced ongoing government interventions in agriculture and other sectors, saying the administration had continued to pursue programmes designed to strengthen production, improve livelihoods and expand opportunities for residents.
Odii’s campaign, however, has maintained that its proposed agenda is designed to move Ebonyi towards a more industrialised and investment-driven economy, with emphasis on job creation, human-capital development, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and private-sector growth.
The PDP candidate has also advocated stronger industrialisation and investment attraction, including agro-industrial development, as part of his broader economic transformation agenda.
The competing positions have emerged as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 governorship election, with education, employment, industrialisation, infrastructure and human-capital development increasingly featuring prominently in campaign narratives.
While Oketa urged Ebonyians to consider the record of the present administration alongside campaign promises, Odii has continued to market his proposed programmes as an alternative development agenda for the state.
Concluding his response, Oketa declared his support for the governor and the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the election.
“Ebonyians can see the difference. As we approach the 2027 election, it is Governor FON and APC all the way,” he said.
