The Ezza Ezekuna Clan has unanimously endorsed the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, as its sole governorship candidate for the 2027 election, citing his administration’s achievements in peacebuilding, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and inclusive governance.
The endorsement was formally announced on Thursday during a grand rally held at Onueke, where leaders, stakeholders, traditional rulers, women groups, youths, and members of the clan gathered to express support for the governor’s re-election bid.
Speaking on behalf of the clan, the Chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee of the Ezza Ezekuna Endorsement Rally and Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh, described Governor Nwifuru as a patriotic leader whose administration has placed the welfare of Ebonyi people at the centre of governance.
According to Omebeh, the governor’s People’s Charter of Needs Agenda has significantly impacted the lives of citizens through policies aimed at promoting peace, security, stability, and economic growth across the state.
He noted that shortly after assuming office on May 29, 2023, Governor Nwifuru symbolically raised the white flag of peace and embarked on deliberate efforts to resolve long-standing communal and boundary disputes that had disrupted social harmony in several communities.
Among the conflicts successfully addressed by the administration are the Ezza-Effium and Effium crisis in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, the Amanze-Izzo dispute in Ishielu Local Government Area, the Ohankwu-Amanna conflict involving Ezza South and Ikwo Local Government Areas, the Ishinkwor-Abaomege dispute in Onicha Local Government Area, the Amasiri-Okporojo crisis in Afikpo North and Edda Local Government Areas, as well as the Ishiagu-Akaeze conflict in Ivo Local Government Area.
To consolidate peace in some of the affected communities, the state government established Alioma and Alioma Ezekuna Autonomous Communities in Ezza-Effium and Effium, as well as Amanze and Izzo Autonomous Communities in Ishielu.
The administration also constructed 150 three-bedroom housing units for residents of the Amanze and Izzo communities.Omebeh further highlighted the government’s intervention in the Ishinkwor and Abaomege land dispute through the demarcation of contested boundaries by the State Ministry of Lands and Survey.
The administration was also commended for resolving numerous town union and traditional leadership disputes across the state, including supervising the election of about 80 traditional rulers and town union executives in affected communities.
On inclusive governance, the clan praised Governor Nwifuru for appointing several sons and daughters of Ezza Ezekuna into key positions in government, with particular emphasis on youth and women participation in line with the 35 per cent affirmative action policy.
The endorsement statement also acknowledged the administration’s infrastructural projects within Ezza North and Ezza South Local Government Areas, including the construction of the three-span Ekka/Inyere Akadoro Unity Bridge and the three-span Alubueleke Akadoro Unity Bridge.
Other projects cited include the construction of one-storey classroom blocks with administrative offices and convenience facilities in six pilot schools, the construction of a seven-kilometre road in Ekka, rehabilitation and reactivation of the general hospitals in Ezza North and Ezza South, provision of ambulances, utility vehicles for doctors, doctors’ quarters, and medical supplies for hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
The clan also expressed appreciation for the inclusion of Ezza Ezekuna indigenes in the state’s local and foreign postgraduate scholarship programmes, recruitment exercises into the civil service, and the payment of pensions and gratuities to retired state and local government workers.
In addition, members of the clan thanked the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending various Renewed Hope initiatives to the area, including agricultural support programmes for women and youths, as well as the ongoing cash transfer scheme.
Declaring their support, the people of Ezza Ezekuna said they had resolved to adopt Governor Nwifuru as their sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election in order to sustain and consolidate the gains recorded under the People’s Charter of Needs Agenda.
“The entire Ezza Ezekuna Clan speaks with one voice and echoes with one tone in adopting Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as our sole governorship candidate for 2027,” the statement read.
The endorsement is expected to further strengthen the governor’s political support base ahead of the next electoral cycle in Ebonyi State.
