Ebonyi Council Poll: 13 Council Chairmen, 171 Councilors Lobby for Second Term As Gov't Allegedly Endorses 3 

From Okoh OMAKA (Abakaliki)

Ahead of July 20 local government elections in Ebonyi state, all the 13 council chairmen and 171 councilors have intensified lobby for second term tickets.

The EBSIEC had announced July, 2024 for the local government elections just as the Governor Nwifuru has announced a level-playing ground for all contestants.

The Chairman of Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, (EBSIEC), Barrister Josy Eze, had fixed Saturday, July 20, 2024 for the election of the 13 local government areas and 171 political wards in the state.

Eze explained that the election would be held in the 171 political wards, urging political parties to actively participate in the process. 

"Under the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,(as amended), the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2001, as amended, and the Ebonyi State Electoral and Related Matters Law, No. 001 of 2017, as amended, and all other powers enabling her in that behalf, the Ebonyi state independent electoral commission do hereby publish and give notice of local government council elections in Ebonyi state 2024.

“Further take notice that the date of elections ( day of polls) is Saturday, 20 day of July, 2024 throughout Ebonyi state; and that Nomination papers are to be delivered at the commission’s headquarters, No. 1 Onwe road Abakaliki, Ebonyi state.

“Also take notice that it is further published in each of the thirteen local government areas and the one hundred and seventy-one electoral wards in Ebonyi state that electoral are to be held," the Chairman said. 

It was gathered that the tenure of the EBSIEC Chairman will elapse on July 31st, 2024," he stated.

Following the EBSIEC release of time table, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has assured that imposition of candidates would not be allowed.

In a press statement signed by Dr. Monday Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor dated April 28, 2024, the Governor promised that a level playing ground will be provided for all the aspirants, adding that all stakeholders and people at the grassroots would participate in choosing credible candidates that will represent them.

"I am delighted with the way and manner the Council Chairmen have handled the issue of security and the way they have interacted with the people at the grassroot. But like I told them last night, those who are seeking re-election should strive to earn the trust and support of the stakeholders and the people."

"Our party is a large one , therefore, would do everything possible to resist imposition of Candidates. As a Governor, I will not have much to say on who becomes the next local Government Chairman," the Governor said.

He cautioned government officials to avoid resentment capable of tarnishing the image of the Government."

Ebonyi State runs a unique system of conducting election for the 13 recognised local government areas and then appoint caretaker committee for about 53 development centres to be headed by a coordinator for each centre.

The system enables the party in power to accommodate their members and extend patronage to some stakeholders, who have stood with the party in the nick of time.

But since the EBSIEC announcement, the incumbent have been lobbying Governor Francis Nwifuru for second term tickets, alleging that he promised to return them during electioneering.

The incumbent chairmen were elected for two years in August 2022 in line with the local government law, but tried to lobby for an extension to three years, arguing that two years is grossly not enough to carry out any meaningful programmes or make positive impact.

The chairmen include Mr. Ebere Nwogba (Abakaliki LGA); Mr. Chinedu Uburu (Ebonyi); John Onwe (Ishielu); Moses Ogodo Ali (Ezza North); Sunday Nwankwo (Ikwo); Mrs. Euphemia Nwali (Ezza South); Chinonso Ajah (Ohaozara); Stephen Nwankpa (Izzi).

Others include Emmanuel Aja (Ivo); Chima Ekuma Nkama (Afikpo South); Uchenna Ibiam (Afikpo North); Ikechukwu Odono (Ohaukwu) and Chidiebere Uzor (Onicha).

Some of the chairmen including that of Afikpo North. South, Ivo, Onicha and their counterparts in central and north have intensified lobby for a second chance, arguing that they have performed and deserve another term.

The chairmen are said to have employed all sorts of lobby groups even as they have deployed their aides to flood the social media with their real and imaginary achievements and other means of propaganda to promote and possibly persuade the Governor to give them soft landing in the event thy lose out of second term tickets.

Some of the chairmen have also employed some political spin doctors and even besieged the various stakeholders' houses and offices seeking for second term endorsements.

Investigations by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that ninety-nine percent of stakeholders cutting across all parties do not want the incumbent chairmen to return, describing some of them as unfit to be chairmen considering their controversial emergence under former Governor Dave Umahi, now minister of works.

A stakeholder, who gave his name as Chief Egwu Ogbugu, form Ohaozara said: "I think these current chairmen should just go and not bother to re-contest. They have had their turn let others take. Some of them are even security risks to their communities.

Another stakeholder from Abakaliki, Ogbonna Amaefuna, said: "We need responsible and quality leadership at the grassroots level of governance. Besides, people should be allowed to elect or select those who rules them."

But Chief Ogbonna Nweze, an APC stalwarts, said: "For me nothing wrong is forgiving some of them who have distinquished themselves in office a second chance. Sometimes, we should learn how to groom leaders from the grassroots. 

"Most of those ruling us today came from the local government councils as former councillors, SAs and chairmen. We cannot just throw away the entire chairmen and bring in new sets."

However, a few weeks to the election, THE BEAGLE NEWS have it on good authoritaty that only about three of the serving council chairmen including that of Ohaozara, Ikwo and the governor's council chairman would be returned while the rest would be replaced.

Sources close to Governor's office, told our reporter that Nwifuru may have tacitly endorsed the three serving chairmen including Sunday Nwankwo of Ikwo and Chinonso Ajah of Ohaozara, adding that stakeholders are discreetly working for their emergence.