The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Ebonyi State electorate to support its governorship candidate, Ifeanyichukwuma Odii (Anyichuks), in the 2027 election.

The party made the appeal on Tuesday during a voter sensitisation town hall meeting with stakeholders, party faithful and electorate at Amaeze community in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

The Coordinator, Anyichuks Elders Council, Boniface Igwe, said that Mr Odii possessed the leadership experience and administrative capacity required to address the state’s economic challenges, insecurity and youth unemployment.

Mr Igwe, also argued that Ebonyi South should produce the next governor, insisting that the zone had been marginalised in the state’s power-sharing arrangement.

He recalled that Ebonyi State was created from parts of the old Abia and Enugu states, resulting in two major political blocs, Afikpo and Abakaliki.

According to him, the Abakaliki bloc has governed the state for about 20 years since 1999, while the Afikpo bloc has occupied the governorship for eight years.

He identified former governors Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi as leaders from the Abakaliki bloc who governed between 1999 and 2015, while former governor Dave Umahi, from the Afikpo bloc governed between 2015 and 2023.

Mr Igwe said that with power returning to the Abakaliki bloc under the incumbent governor, Francis Nwifuru, allowing the Afikpo bloc to produce the next governor would promote political balance.

“Is it equity, fairness and justice when one bloc has governed for about 20 years and the other for only eight years? The answer is no,” he said.

He described Mr Odii as a successful businessman and administrator whose achievements demonstrated his capacity to drive development.

Mr Igwe cited Mr Odii’s construction of 135 buildings, comprising bungalows and duplexes, for indigent persons across the state, as well as public schools and palaces for traditional rulers, using personal resources as a testament of his large heart.

“Somebody who has taken his business to that level as a successful businessman and chief executive of a group of companies has demonstrated that he can administer a state effectively,” he said.

He also solicited support for the party’s House of Representatives candidate, Felix Igboke, describing him as an experienced politician who had served as chairman of Onicha Local Government Area and commissioner in the state.

He further canvassed support for the PDP candidate for Ivo Constituency in the state house of assembly, Anayo Okonronkwo.

Earlier, the PDP Chairman in the locality, Johnson Dike, commended residents of the community for their turnout and urged them to support Mr Odii and other party candidates.

“Your vote is the power you have to remove this non-performing government in the state and elect a governor that will develop our state. Do not sell or trade it for anything,” he said.

Responding, Chukwu Kete, who spoke on behalf of the community development union, thanked the party for organising the meeting and pledged to mobilise grassroots support for its candidates.

The party also paid condolence visits to the families of Uchechukwu Ude and Ikechukwu Nwokeoma, who were recently killed by unidentified assailants on their farm in Amaeze.

It called on the state government and the police to investigate the killings, identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

(NAN)