The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chief Magnus Chinedum Nkah, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, to respect the state's established power-rotation arrangement ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Nkah, who accused Odii of placing personal political ambition above equity and fairness, maintained that Ebonyi North Senatorial District should produce the state's next governor in accordance with what he described as the prevailing zoning understanding among political stakeholders.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the commissioner said the governorship seat should not be treated as the preserve of any individual, political party or financial interest, but as a public trust requiring fairness, inclusion and respect for the interests of the state's three senatorial zones.
“Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii should stop deceiving the people of Ebonyi State and acknowledge the prevailing political realities surrounding the 2027 governorship election,” Nkah said.
He argued that the rotation of the governorship among Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South had become an important political understanding since the state's creation, adding that the arrangement was intended to promote equitable representation and peaceful coexistence.
The commissioner said the position was reinforced by the Ebonyi State Leaders and Stakeholders Political Summit held on October 20, 2026, where, according to him, political leaders and stakeholders from different affiliations expressed support for sustaining the zoning arrangement.
Nkah faulted the Anyi Ga Eme Ya campaign organisation, associated with Odii, for reportedly dismissing the summit as a gathering of political opportunists, arguing that disagreement with its resolutions did not invalidate the concerns about equity and political stability raised by its participants.
He, however, acknowledged that zoning was a political understanding rather than a substitute for the constitutional electoral process, stressing that political aspirants should consider the collective interests of the state alongside their individual ambitions.
“The governorship seat is not the private property of any individual, political party or financial interest. It is a public trust that must be approached with a sense of responsibility, fairness and respect for the legitimate interests of the three senatorial zones,” he said.
Nkah also defended Governor Francis Nwifuru's political experience, citing his two-term tenure as Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly before his emergence as governor in 2023.
According to him, Nwifuru's legislative leadership, experience in institutional management and engagement with competing political interests constitute relevant considerations in assessing leadership capacity ahead of the next governorship election.
He maintained that although private-sector experience and financial resources could contribute to public administration, they should not be regarded as automatic substitutes for political experience, institutional knowledge and preparedness for governance.
The commissioner, however, said legislative experience alone did not guarantee effective executive performance, adding that all aspirants should be assessed on their records, policies, leadership capacity and preparedness for the responsibilities of office.
On the performance of the Nwifuru administration, Nkah rejected what he described as sweeping criticisms by the opposition, insisting that the government should be assessed through verifiable evidence, including project implementation, public expenditure, policy outcomes and the impact of its programmes on citizens.
He identified allegations concerning the Vanco flyover, the reported purchase of aircraft and the proposed Ebonyi New Cement Company at Nkalagu as issues requiring credible information and explanations from the relevant authorities.
Nkah said public projects and expenditure should remain open to scrutiny but cautioned against treating unresolved questions surrounding individual projects as conclusive evidence of the overall performance of an administration.
He also urged opposition parties to present alternative policies and explain how their proposed programmes would address the state's developmental challenges, including education, healthcare, agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure, employment and security.
The commissioner further called on Odii to clarify reports that he had previously announced his withdrawal from active politics ahead of the 2027 elections, asking him to explain whether he had subsequently reversed the decision and the circumstances surrounding any change in his position.
Nkah said political leaders had a responsibility to demonstrate consistency and accountability in their public declarations, particularly on issues capable of generating uncertainty within the political space.
On allegations of killings, attacks and restrictions on political activities in parts of the state, he called for prompt and impartial investigations, insisting that anyone found culpable should be held accountable in accordance with the law.
He also urged security agencies to protect lives and property and ensure that political parties could conduct lawful activities without intimidation, while advising political actors against statements capable of inciting violence.
“The 2027 elections must be conducted in an atmosphere of peace, freedom and fair competition,” he said, adding that all political stakeholders had a responsibility to preserve the state's stability.
Nkah expressed support for issue-based political debates ahead of the election but cautioned that such engagements should not degenerate into personal attacks or distract from substantive discussions about governance, equitable representation and development.
He maintained that the electorate should be allowed to compare the records, policies and development proposals of the various aspirants, while emphasising that public officeholders must remain accountable for their performance.
The commissioner urged Odii and his supporters to engage with the arguments for zoning rather than dismissing those who advocate the arrangement, stressing that no political organisation could claim an exclusive mandate to speak for all Ebonyi people.
He called on political stakeholders to prioritise dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful competition, warning that avoidable political disputes could undermine the state's unity and development.
Nkah reiterated that, in his view, the established zoning understanding points to Ebonyi North Senatorial District as the next zone to produce the governor in 2027, urging other aspirants to consider the implications of their ambitions for equity and political stability.
He stressed, however, that the ultimate choice of governor would be determined through the constitutional electoral process.
