A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and factional National Ex-Officio member of the party, Mazi Moses Idika, has dismissed calls for the party’s 2027 governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, to step down on zoning grounds.
Idika insisted that Odii, a businessman and philanthropist, remains firmly in the race for the governorship seat and has every constitutional right to contest the election.
In a statement, the PDP stalwart argued that the governorship position in Ebonyi State has historically been contested by candidates from different senatorial districts and that no law or constitutional provision prevents any qualified citizen from seeking the office.
According to him, governorship elections conducted in the state since 1999 have featured candidates from Ebonyi North, Central and South senatorial districts, irrespective of political arrangements or zoning considerations.
He maintained that Odii’s ambition is legitimate and should be decided by the electorate through the ballot box rather than by what he described as an “imaginary zoning system.”
Idika also challenged supporters of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s re-election bid to focus on promoting the achievements of the administration instead of engaging in succession politics.
He accused the state government of failing to adequately address key developmental challenges confronting the state and expressed confidence that Odii would provide an alternative vision driven by investment, industrialisation and economic growth.
The PDP chieftain described Odii as a patriotic leader committed to improving the welfare of Ebonyi people and attracting greater economic opportunities to the state.
“Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii will contest, he will win, and Ebonyi people will be happy again,” Idika stated.
He urged residents of the state to determine the next governor through democratic means during the 2027 governorship election.
The statement comes amid increasing political activities and realignments among political parties in Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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