Politics
Ebonyi 2027: Gov. Nwifuru, Umahi in battle for supremacy
Early last month, as tension simmered between the camps of Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, and his predecessor, David Umahi over the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state, the latter led a delegation to pay New Year homage to the former in his hometown of Oferekpe Agbaja in Izzi local government area of the state.
During the visit on Friday, January 3, Umahi, the current Minister of Works, accompanied by former Executive Council Members, who served under his administration, endorsed Nwifuru for a second term, while describing him as a man of integrity.
But, while the visit and the endorsement presented a semblance of peace, trouble continued to lurk underneath the surface. And sources say things could boil over soon, with the governor determined to assert his authority.
“Nwifuru wants to set up his government in a way that he will be independent. At the moment, the government is still made up of Umahi’s loyalists and his own loyalists,” a source close to the governor told Business Hallmark on the condition of anonymity. “So, he needs to reshuffle his cabinet to appoint his own people and gain firm control of his government first. That is going to happen between now and latest June.”
Perhaps, preparatory to the impending fight, the governor’s camp, through the state APC chairman, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, is aggressively wooing opposition figures and Umahi’s political enemies into the state APC.
On Wednesday, the immediate-past acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ifeanyi Nworie, defected to the ruling party, alongside hundreds of his supporters.
They were welcomed to the APC on Wednesday with a civic reception at the Ezza South Local Government Area headquarters, Onueke.
Nworie declared his support for the Nwifuru-led administration, adding that his intention of joining the APC was because of the people-oriented policies of the party.
“We have fought a lot, and we can see that Governor Francis Nwifuru and the APC meant well for the state,” he said. “Our defection is to support Gov. Nwifuru in building the state and bring the dividends of democracy to the people.”
Okoro-Emegha, state’s APC party chairman, while welcoming the defectors, called for their continued support to the government of APC, adding that crisis and bitterness do no man any good.
He stated that he has approached the governorship candidate of the opposition PDP in the 2023 general election, Ifeanyi Chukwuma-Odii, to join hands with Nwifuru to move the state forward.
“The door of the party is like a church, when you repent, you will be welcome. We want everyone to join. The development of a state comes with collective ideas; we welcome the defectors,” he said. “I have travelled to Lagos to meet Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma-Odii to join hands with Gov. Nwifuru to move the state forward.”
The APC chairman, who is at the middle of the simmering tension between the governor and his predecessor, had previously wooed Chief Abia Onyike, a PDP chieftain, and former commissioner for information, and a staunch critic of Umahi, into the ruling party.
Meanwhile, Nwifuru who has received heated backlash on social over his alleged sponsorship of pilgrims with over N500m, remains widely popular with the Ebonyi populace who say he has revived the economy and reduced poverty within the short period he has been in power.
“Nobody is complaining in Ebonyi now, everyone is happy with Governor Nwifuru because he pays workers well, and because of it, the economy is reviving,” said Onyi Ugwu a trader in Abakaliki, the state capital.
“If you put your goods out, you at least sell. Buyers are coming, unlike when Umahi was in power. Again, traders are no longer being harassed. Before now, if you are only allowed to trade in these shops that they built, and it’s expensive. If they see you outside it, the will confiscate your goods. It was very bad. But now, what the new governor is after is that you don’t trade on the road. Once you are not on the road, you don’t have a problem. People are happy.”
Umahi as governor prioritized infrastructure, while leaving other aspects of governance comatose. Workers were poorly paid, education and healthcare suffered. But residents say things are changing.
Umahi’s Endorsements
Meanwhile, Umahi, who, during his endorsement of the governor in early January, chronicled his journey with Nwifuru, when he was the Speaker of the House of Assembly during his tenure as governor, commended his hard work, dedication and forthrightness, adding that Gov. Nwifuru was instrumental to his achievements.
“We came today to pay homage to our governor in whom I find no fault. For me, we started this journey before I became governor several years ago,” he had said. “We passed through difficult times, and throughout our stay in office, I never gave you one kobo. I found you on the altar of hard work, dedication, diligence and integrity.
“I had declared what God said I should declare: that your tenure is for eight years, and I am saying it here in the land of Izzi, your home. And I want to let you know that because of your goodwill and achievements, your re-election will be funded by friends and associates. You will not put one kobo…
The endorsement in January had followed on the heels of an earlier endorsement on December 27, 2024, by the minister, when members of Izzi Nnodo Youths Forum paid him Christmas homage at his Umunagu, Uburu country home in Ohaozara local government area of the State.
“Even if God forbid and your brothers or Izzi people stand against me tomorrow, the covenant I had with Governor Nwifuru and God is complete and uninterrupted for eight years and nothing would stop it,” he had said on the occasion. “I fought principalities and powers alone and won, and you think I can’t do it now that I have someone by my side. Governor Nwifuru would serve the Ebonyi people for the second term in office like other former Governors of the State.
“I have been saying it and will keep saying it, I have not seen any better option in Izzi till now. Sorry to say this. Governor Nwifuru is humble and till the end of eight years, I am not leaving him. Not now!.”
Battle for Control
Umahi’s endorsements had come as part of efforts to reduce tension, which had begun to build following a disagreement between the two over the state party leadership.
Umahi, who had a fallout with the state’s APC chairman, Okoro-Emegha, following violent attacks at Ekoli-Edda in Afikpo south LGA of the state on December 26, 2022, reportedly wants him out after his first term in favor of a new chairman.
Recall that on the said day in December 2022, violent clashes – arising from existing grudges among political factions – occurred between Ebube Agu operatives, who accompanied Okoro-Emegha – who doubled as their coordinator – and the youths in the community, who were loyal to Hon. Eni Uduma Chima, then house of representatives candidate for Afikpo North/South constituency.
Okoro-Emegha, who was, then Umahi’s core loyalist, had become APC Caretaker Chairman after he resigned his appointment as the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace in 2021. But he was then appointed as a security consultant to the Ebonyi State Government, with effect from September 1, 2021. In that capacity, he oversaw the Ebube Agu squad.
Meanwhile, the Ebube Agu operatives were said to have opened fire on the protesting youths, which led to the killing of a youth leader identified as Kalu Egwu. Following his death, the youths of the area mobilized and went on rampage, killing Eme Orji, the younger brother of the APC Chairman, who brought the Ebube Agu squad and an Inspector of Police attached to SPU.
The irate youths equally set ablaze the village house of Okoro-Emegha, his Toyota Hilux van, and a Toyota Sienna space bus belonging to the Police Command’s Tactical Teams.
In the wake of the violence, Umahi, the then-governor, ordered the arrest of the two parties in the conflict, Okoro-Emegha and Eni Chima, blaming them for the killings. Both men were subsequently arrested by the police in January 2023, alongside 24 others, in connection with the killings. They were, however, subsequently released.
Nwifuru became governor in May 2023, and Okoro-Emegha found a new boss. But Umahi was no longer comfortable with him, and reportedly made his intention known. However, Nwifuru saw things differently and wanted the party chairman to stay on for a second term.
In December 2023, Nwifuru openly endorsed Okoro-Emegha for a second term, in spite of Umahi’s disapproval of him. Tension started as a result.
Igboayaka, Ohanaeze Youth President’s Angle
Although the Minister’s camp has so far not communicated their discomfort publicly, a recent interview published in a online medium, in which the President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Mr. Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, accused Nwifuru of abandoning governance to struggle for control of party leadership, was interpreted in the governor’s camp as an orchestration from Abuja.
Igboayaka had accused Nwifuru of prioritizing the APC leadership in the state instead of addressing security and development challenges.
He went to the extent of warning the governor to focus on delivering dividends of democracy to Ebonyians “instead of entangling himself in party leadership altercations with his predecessor, Umahi.
While the governor’s camp was still upset about Igboayaka’s remarks, the Youth leader would add insult to injury following the February 2 attack on Amegu Nkalaha community in the lshielu LGA of the state by gunmen initially suspected to Fulani herdsmen, in which 16 people were killed.
While reacting to the attack, Igboayaka alleged that he alerted Nwifuru four days before the suspected Fulani herdsmen struck.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council in a statement, had said, “Our findings indicate that Fulani herdsmen are expanding their presence in Ebonyi State, posing a significant threat of additional attacks if Governor Francis Nwifuru remains inactive, which may lead to further loss of life in Ebonyi State…
“Evidently, Governor Francis Nwifuru has been ineffective in ensuring the safety of lives and properties in Ebonyi, raising concerns about his capacity, ability, and dedication to resolving the Fulani herdsmen violence in Ebonyi State.
The Ohanaeze youth wing also condemned a press statement released by President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ebonyi State chapter, Barrister Justice Chibuzora Okoha, which expressed support for Nwifuru’s administration.
“Regrettably, a defense and response on behalf of Gov Francis Nwifuru should not have emanated from Ohanaeze Ndigbo (parental body) Ebonyi State chapter, but rather from Gov. Nwifuru’s Commissioner of Information or SA on Media.
Following Igboayaka’s statement, he was arrested by the police to explain how much information he had before the attack occurred. While many pointed fingers at Nwifuru, the governor denied ordering his arrest.
Meanwhile, in an article recently, a certain Eugene Obaji, a loyalist of Nwifuru, took Igboayaka to the cleaners over his argument against the governor.
In the article titled, “Gov. Nwifuru and the threat of a godfather: The Ohanaeze youth angle,” Obaji argued that, “The vituperation of Igboayaka was full of innuendos, falsehood, and bias. His comments may be part of the background noises probably orchestrated by the creeping godfather and his fellow travelers to create confusion in the state to introduce and perpetuate their inordinate ambition in Ebonyi politics.
“But the idea of a godfather cannot survive in Ebonyi State because it is a cankerworm that destroys the polity. Ebonyi is too decent for such cancerous politics.”
According to him, “Igboayaka’s theory of political control of the party runs contrary to the dominant situation in today’s Nigeria. Therefore it is a fallacy…. What arrant nonsense is Igboayaka talking about? Is he saying that an incumbent Governor who is the leader of the party in the state should abandon his responsibility of exercising effective leadership over the party? For what reason must he not take full control of the party machinery? Perhaps, Igboayaka is a harbinger of godfather politics and would have favoured a situation where the former Governor was in control of the party in the state.
“This suggestion has exposed him as a political undertaker for tyrants and dictators who want to control everything in Ebonyi permanently and continuously even after they had their own turn in governance. Is Igboayaka saying that Gov. Nwifuru should be running to Umahi any time he wants to lead the party? Is Umahi politically indispensable or has he proven to be a genius in human management?
After all, Umahi is not the first former governor to become a Minister. Dr. Sam Egwu, who ruled the state from 1999 to 2007, was the Minister of Education from 2009-2011. He did not dictate to his successor, Chief Martin Elechi about party or any other matters.
“When did Umahi become so important that the incumbent leader should surrender his powers to him? Will the Ebonyi people, who gave their mandate to Nwifuru, allow him to transfer the powers to the former governor? Did Ebonyians vote for Umahi as governor in 2023? Is he not a mere appointee (
boy-boy) to President Bola Tinubu? after abandoning his seat in the Senate? Is he holding any other elective position today?” The battle line seems to be drawn and face-off in top gear. It is about 2027 because what Umahi says about supporting the governor comes down to one thing: on whose side is the chairman of the party? As a wary politician, who has seen it all, his endorsement of the governor could be a ploy and decoy to blindside the governor into dropping his guard and opening up himself for a sucker punch.
