By Nwajiobi Ijeoma 9news Nigeria, Nnewi
The Ebonyi Peoples’ Political/Economic Summit 2026 has rejected calls for an automatic second term for Governor Francis Nwifuru, endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks, and called for a change of leadership in the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The summit, held yesterday in Abakaliki, reached the position in a communiqué that stressed that political leadership should be determined by performance, competence, integrity and accountability rather than incumbency.
According to the communiqué, participants expressed the view that the incumbent administration had not sufficiently justified another mandate based on the evidence presented at the gathering.
The summit consequently called for a change of leadership and identified Odii as a credible alternative for Ebonyi State in 2027.
It maintained that public officeholders should be assessed on their records, policy outcomes and contributions to the welfare of the people, rather than being granted another term solely because they are incumbents.
The summit also rejected the idea that a sitting governor is automatically entitled to a second term, citing Sections 179 and 180 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as part of the legal framework governing governorship elections and tenure.
It argued that voters retain the right to assess an administration’s performance and decide through the electoral process whether to renew its mandate.
The communiqué further condemned alleged intimidation, harassment and threats against opposition politicians, critics, civil society organisations and media practitioners.
It called for an environment in which political competition could take place freely, with respect for fundamental rights and equal protection under the law.
The summit said peaceful political engagement, respect for dissenting opinions and protection of democratic participation were essential as the state approaches the 2027 governorship election.
Beyond its political position, the gathering outlined six major development priorities intended to address economic challenges, expand opportunities and improve public services across Ebonyi State.
The priorities include fiscal transparency and accountability, economic diversification, agro-industrial development, mining sector reforms, human capital development and infrastructure expansion.
According to the communiqué, the proposals are intended to address poverty, stimulate job creation and convert the state’s agricultural and mineral resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
However, implementing the proposed development agenda would require detailed planning, sustainable financing and effective execution.
Key considerations include how projects would be funded, the partnerships needed to attract private investment, the prioritisation of projects and the timelines for their delivery.
The summit also stressed the importance of clear performance indicators and transparent monitoring mechanisms to enable citizens to assess progress and hold public officeholders accountable for their commitments.
For Odii, the development priorities provide a framework for explaining how his proposed leadership would address infrastructure deficits, strengthen public institutions, expand economic opportunities and improve social services.
The Ebonyi Peoples’ Political/Economic Summit 2026 has therefore placed governance performance, accountability and development at the centre of its message ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Its communiqué rejects automatic second-term entitlement, calls for a change of leadership and endorses Anyichuks, while setting out a development agenda covering fiscal transparency, economic diversification, agro-industrialisation, mining, human capital and infrastructure.
As political activities gather momentum towards 2027, the proposals raise questions about how candidates will address the state’s development challenges and how voters can assess their promises against verifiable records and practical plans.
