Former Ebonyi State Governor, Senator Sam Egwu, and a former South-East National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ali Odefa, have distanced themselves from moves to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, despite the endorsement of Governor Francis Nwifuru for re-election at a political summit in Abakaliki.
The two political leaders made their positions known at the Ebonyi State Stakeholders Political Summit, where discussions on political succession, zoning and peaceful transition in the state became entangled with divergent positions on the President's re-election bid.
Egwu, who chaired the summit, clarified that the gathering was not convened to endorse Tinubu's second-term ambition, stressing that the event was intended to deliberate on political stability, equity, zoning and an orderly transition of power in Ebonyi State.
His clarification followed remarks by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, who had praised Tinubu's performance in office, highlighting his administration's achievements and interventions, including those relating to Ebonyi State.
Egwu reportedly maintained that although participants were at liberty to commend the President's performance, the summit was not designed as a platform for endorsing any presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He noted that other political stakeholders could equally wish to commend or support alternative presidential aspirants, making it inappropriate to portray the gathering as having adopted a unanimous position on Tinubu's re-election.
The controversy intensified when the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, moved a motion for the adoption of Tinubu ahead of the consideration of the summit's communiqué.
The move introduced a contentious dimension to the gathering, with Egwu's earlier clarification underscoring the absence of an agreed agenda to endorse the President's second-term bid.
Odefa, a former South-East National Vice Chairman of the PDP and a known supporter of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, also dissociated himself from the reported endorsement of Tinubu.
He made it clear that he was not part of the move to adopt the President for a second term, further illustrating the divisions among political leaders at the summit over the 2027 presidential contest.
However, the stakeholders reached a position on the Ebonyi governorship succession, endorsing Nwifuru for a second term and reaffirming the principle of senatorial zoning as a mechanism for promoting equity, inclusion and political stability in the state.
The summit, which attracted political leaders and stakeholders from the state's three senatorial zones and 13 local government areas, was held under the theme, “Orderly and Peaceful Political Transition in Ebonyi State: The Way Forward.”
Among those in attendance were former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former governor Martin Elechi, Umahi and Nwifuru, who participated as Special Guest of Honour.
The governor was represented by his deputy, Princess Patricia Obila.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and read by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on South-East Engagement, Barrister Chioma Nweze, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to peace, unity and political stability as prerequisites for the state's continued development.
The communiqué read by the Senior Special Assistant to President on Community Engagement in the South East region, acknowledged the history of power rotation among the three senatorial zones since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, noting that former governors Egwu, Elechi and Umahi each served two four-year terms, representing Ebonyi North, Central and South, respectively.
It also recognised the role of zoning in fostering a sense of inclusion among the state's three senatorial zones and urged political leaders to sustain dialogue, fairness and mutual accommodation in resolving questions relating to political succession.
“In the interest of equity, fairness, mutual trust and the preservation of peaceful coexistence, the summit expressed support for the continuation of the established zoning understanding in the consideration of the 2027 governorship succession,” the communiqué stated.
It added that Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone should be allowed to complete the governorship in the 2027 electoral cycle, in keeping with the rotation principle acknowledged by the participants.
The stakeholders also urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their activities with restraint and mutual respect, warning against inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation, political violence and other actions capable of undermining public order.
They further called on political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and residents to protect the state's unity irrespective of political affiliation.
The summit's resolution on the governorship succession therefore contrasted with the lack of a shared position on the presidential race, highlighting the distinction between the stakeholders' agreement on Ebonyi's zoning arrangement and their differing political preferences ahead of the 2027 general elections.
