Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election, insisting that the mandate of the people “cannot be stolen again.”
Odii made the declaration after submitting his nomination forms and undergoing screening at the PDP national secretariat, Legacy House, Abuja, where he criticised the current state of governance in Ebonyi and pledged to provide what he described as leadership focused on economic growth and human capital development.
Key Highlights:
- Ifeanyi Odii officially joins the 2027 Ebonyi governorship race under the PDP.
- Says Ebonyi people are facing worsening poverty and insecurity.
- Declares that “our mandate will not be stolen again” in 2027.
- Criticises clannish politics and calls for unity across Ebonyi State.
- Insists strong opposition is necessary for democracy to thrive.
- Expresses confidence of securing PDP ticket and winning the governorship election.
Speaking with journalists after his screening, Odii said the decision to re-contest was driven by the growing economic hardship and lack of visible improvement in the lives of Ebonyi residents since the 2023 elections.
According to him, Ebonyi State urgently requires purposeful leadership capable of addressing poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and economic stagnation.
“At this critical time, Ebonyi State requires leadership,” Odii stated, adding that despite increased federal allocations to the state, poverty levels had continued to rise.
The PDP chieftain maintained that insecurity and economic hardship had worsened across communities in the state, stressing that his administration would prioritise economic empowerment and human capital development if elected.
Odii also defended the role of opposition politics in a democratic system, warning against attempts to silence dissenting voices.
“For democracy to grow, there has to be a strong opposition. Any opposition with constructive ideas is welcome. Any government or society that says there should be no opposition is a dictatorship, and we will not allow dictatorship in Ebonyi State,” he said.
The former governorship candidate further rejected ethnic and clannish politics, insisting that governance should not be determined by sectional interests or local affiliations.
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“When they say you are not from North or not from Izzi, I remind them that I am first from Ebonyi State before any local government or clan identity. Ebonyi State cannot be governed on the basis of clannish politics,” he added.
Odii noted that his foundation had carried out interventions across various communities in Ebonyi without discrimination, stressing that poverty and hardship cut across all parts of the state.
He also expressed confidence in emerging victorious at both the PDP governorship primary and the 2027 governorship election.
“Our mandate will not be stolen again in 2027,” Odii declared.
