Withdraw The Suits Against Nwifuru A Cross-Section Of Ebonyi Youths Urges

The Youths in Ebonyi state, under the leadership of Ezza North Youth General Assembly, urged the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the All Progressives Congress(APC) to withdraw their suits made against the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, by Ifeanyi Odii and Benard Odoh, respectively, in the 2023 general elections,
The group said it was high time Odii and Odoh withdrew their legal suits against the governor, stressing that the move would be in the interest of Ebonyians at large.

Recall that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APGA) candidates had earlier approached the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja to challenge the processes that upheld Nwifuru as governor of the state, they reinstated that the Independent National Electoral Commission erred by declaring him the winner of the March 18 polls.

Just last month, the tribunal ruled in favour of Nwifuru but Odii and Odoh have appealed the ruling.

The communique which was released and signed by the chairman of the group, Nwokporo Emeka; secretary, Titus Eze; legal adviser, Chika Igboke; and media director, Polycarp Alegu; among others, the youth group on Monday called on the opposition candidates to end the legal tussle with Nwifuru, adding that the elections had already been contested and won.

The communique read in parts, “The apex youth organization of Ezza North LGA held her general meeting on the 12th day of October 2023 at Onu-Nwode Primary School, Okposi Umuoghara in the council area wherefore the following resolutions were made:

“Firstly to thank the Almighty God for the outcome of the Ebonyi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja whose judgment was rendered on the 27th day of September, 2023 affirming the Chief Servant and the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru FNIOB, FCAI, GGCEHF, as the authentic candidate of APC and the winner of the last concluded governorship election in the state.”

“That we commend very highly the dispositions of the members of the tribunal whose rendered judgment was a true reflection of the aspirations and wishes of the majority of the people in the state.”

“The apex youth body wants to reiterate their earlier stand and position but in a broader manner by calling on our brothers, Prof. Ifeanyi Benard Odoh and Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii to wholeheartedly accept the outcome of Ebonyi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgment which is the true reflection of the mandate Ebonyians bestowed on Governor Nwifuru.”

It further read, “We are specifically calling on Mr. Odii to backtrack and stop paragliding around the courts and continuing to distract Governor Nwifuru where he is seeking unholy judgment in the election he knew he failed woefully.”

“That Mr. Odii who is from Ebonyi South Zone is fully aware that the founding fathers of the state had enthroned the charter of equity in our political terrain upon which the three senatorial districts in the state rotate the governorship position and presently, it is not the turn of Ebonyi South Zone to produce the governor.”

“That is the reason why the majority of Umuekumaenyi vehemently rejected their own, Chief Arch. Edward Nkwegu in 2015 had the backing of the then incumbent Governor, H.E Martin N. Elechi, and overwhelmingly supported the immediate past governor and minister for works, Fed. Rep. of Nigeria, H.E Engr. Chief David N. Umahi was because it was the turn of Ebonyi South Zone to produce the Governor of the State then.”

“That the political voyage of Mr. Odii to govern the state now is untimely, pretentious, and aberration, and if he over-stretches the good people of Umuekumaenyi, there will be a compound and combusting political catastrophe as the apex youth body of Ezza North shall spur Umuekeumaenyi youths to convoke the Igala politics of Benue people to be played in Ebonyi State.”