Ebonyi PDP : Odii Will Never Step Down for Nwifuru, Says Spokesperson

Dr Ifeanyi Odii, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi, will never step down for Gov. Francis Nwifuru, his spokesperson, Chief Emma Igwe, said on Monday.

 

Igwe spoke in Abakaliki while representing Odii at the Ebonyi 2027 elections democratic dialogue. He said he had his principal's authority to declare that it was ridiculous to reduce the state's governorship to a family affair, and that Odii would not step down for anyone.

 

His remarks follow a recent declaration by the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, that he would ask his "cousin", Odii, to step down for Nwifuru in the 2027 general elections, according to an earlier NAN report.

 

The minister had promised to convince Odii that it was not the turn of the state's southern senatorial district to produce the governor, since he (Umahi) left the office only in 2023.

 

Igwe cast doubt on the remark.

 

"I do not believe Umahi said so, but if he did, it must be under a state of happiness or joke," he said.

 

He pointed to the minister's own path to power. "When the minister contested for the Ebonyi gubernatorial seat, he stood firm and fought the prevailing establishments, which were standing on his way to be governor.

 

"He did not become governor because he was from the southern senatorial district but because he was resilient," he said.

 

Igwe insisted that any family matter between Umahi and Odii should be handled as such and kept out of politics.

 

"Odii has his own political choice, supporters among others and such should not be mixed with any family affair.

 

"PDP supporters and the generality of Ebonyi populace should be assured that the man who is coming to rescue the state must contest the election," he said.

 

The spokesperson said Odii understood that zoning promotes inclusiveness, but argued that it should be set aside when the state needed a rescue mission.

 

"Odii will serve one term with the main aim of rescuing the state from its present unpleasant situation and then handover," he said.

 

The dialogue was organised by the Centre for Media and Dialogue Initiative in collaboration with the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ebonyi.