AN OPEN LETTER TO ANYI CHUKS
Ebonyi LGA, Ebonyi State
17th September, 2026
Dr. Chukwuma Ifeanyi Odii,
PDP Governorship Candidate,
Ebonyi State.
EQUITY, PERFORMANCE AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE POLITICAL REALITY IN EBONYI
Dear Sir,
Permit me to congratulate you on your emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Ebonyi State. Your emergence has undoubtedly generated considerable political conversation across the State, and your background as a successful businessman and philanthropist deserves recognition.
But because politics is ultimately about competing ideas, records and visions for the people, it is necessary to ask a straightforward question:
What exactly is the political argument for replacing Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru in 2027?
It is not enough to say that Ebonyi needs a “new direction.” You must demonstrate, with evidence, where the present administration has failed, and then show Ebonyians what your proposed alternative would do differently.
That is where the conversation becomes serious.
NWIFURU’S RECORD CANNOT BE WISHED AWAY
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s administration has placed considerable emphasis on his People’s Charter of Needs — a governing philosophy built around responding to citizens’ identified needs rather than simply pursuing projects chosen by government.
The State Government’s published project portfolio currently lists more than 420 projects across the 13 LGAs, covering roads and bridges, healthcare, education, water resources, aviation and other sectors.
Whether every project deserves the same assessment is a legitimate subject for public debate. But it would be intellectually dishonest to pretend that nothing has happened.
The administration has also undertaken one of the most consequential social interventions of its tenure: addressing inherited pension and gratuity obligations.
In 2025, the government announced payment of pension and gratuity arrears to local-government retirees dating back to 1996, while the commencement of a N10 billion gratuity payment programme for more than 4,000 retired local-government workers was subsequently reported.
That is not a slogan. That is a policy decision with direct consequences for thousands of Ebonyi families.
The administration has also reported investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment and MSME development. In presenting the 2026 budget, Governor Nwifuru cited the settlement of inherited pension and gratuity obligations, an empowerment programme reaching more than 5,000 beneficiaries, and investments including new universities in ICT and aeronautic engineering.
So, Dr. Odii, if your campaign says Ebonyi requires a new direction, the question before you is simple:
New direction from what destination? And towards what measurable alternative?
THE PEOPLE WILL COMPARE RECORDS, NOT RHETORIC
Your supporters have every constitutional right to campaign for you. They have also argued publicly that Ebonyians should place competence and performance above zoning considerations.
Fair enough.
But that principle must work both ways.
If performance should supersede sentiment, then the performance of the incumbent administration must be subjected to the same standard.
Ebonyians will look at roads.
They will look at schools.
They will look at hospitals.
They will look at pensions and gratuities.
They will look at empowerment.
They will look at community projects.
They will look at youth opportunities.
They will look at security.
They will look at governance.
And then they will ask every candidate:
What have you done, what are you proposing, and why should we entrust you with the next four years?
That is the real contest.
ON EQUITY AND THE EBONYI POLITICAL ARRANGEMENT
There is also the question of political rotation.
Since the creation of Ebonyi State, Ebonyi South has had sustained representation in the executive branch, including through the administrations of former Governor David Umahi and successive deputy-governorship arrangements.
Governor Nwifuru’s current deputy is also from Ebonyi South.
Supporters of the incumbent therefore argue that the principle of equity requires Ebonyi North to complete its own eight-year governorship cycle before power returns to another senatorial zone.
Others, including voices within the PDP camp, argue that competence should take precedence over zoning. That position has been publicly articulated and deserves to be heard.
But if equity is part of the political conversation, it should not be selectively remembered.
ANYI CHUKS, HERE IS THE REAL TEST
Your emergence has demonstrated that you have political ambition, resources, supporters and the ability to generate attention.
But political morphology is not merely about visibility.
It is about structure, organisation, grassroots penetration, political alliances, credibility, message, record and the ability to translate public attention into votes.
And that is precisely why your campaign still has a great deal to prove.
The fact that people attend your meetings, endorse you or speak positively about you demonstrates political activity; it does not automatically establish electoral dominance.
Similarly, Governor Nwifuru’s incumbency should not automatically be interpreted as an electoral guarantee.
The electorate will decide.
But before that decision is made, your campaign must answer the difficult questions rather than simply declaring that Ebonyi needs a “new direction.”
SHOW EBONYI THE ALTERNATIVE
If you believe Nwifuru has failed, identify the projects, policies or sectors where you believe he has failed.
If you believe his economic policies are inadequate, present your alternative.
If you believe his education policy is deficient, tell Ebonyians what you will do differently.
If you believe his healthcare programme is inadequate, provide the numbers and your alternative plan.
If you oppose the People’s Charter of Needs, explain what you would replace it with.
If you reject the argument for political equity, explain why.
That is how serious political competition should work.
Not through insults.
Not through propaganda.
Not through personality attacks.
Through records, evidence and competing programmes.
AND ABOUT GOVERNOR NWIFURU
Governor Nwifuru is not merely asking Ebonyians to remember him because he occupies Government House.
His administration has put forward a record that includes infrastructure projects across the State, pension and gratuity interventions, education initiatives, healthcare investments and empowerment programmes.
His official profile also records that he won the 2023 governorship election with 199,131 votes against 80,191 votes for his closest rival.
That historical result does not determine 2027. Every election begins afresh.
But it does demonstrate that the incumbent has previously established a substantial electoral base.
Therefore, anyone seeking to replace him must present an exceptionally clear and persuasive case to the electorate.
That case must be stronger than “it is my turn.”
It must be stronger than “I am a successful businessman.”
It must be stronger than “I have resources.”
It must be stronger than “Ebonyi needs a new direction.”
The people deserve to know why, how, and with what evidence.
DR. ODII, YOU HAVE A FUTURE — BUT 2027 MUST BE ABOUT THE PEOPLE
You are still relatively new to electoral politics, and there is nothing wrong with building a long-term political career.
Indeed, your emergence shows that you have entered the political arena with considerable ambition.
But ambition is not the same thing as electoral entitlement.
And criticism of an incumbent is not the same thing as presenting a superior governing alternative.
If your campaign genuinely believes that you can provide better leadership than Governor Nwifuru, then let the people compare the records, the programmes, the structures and the visions of both camps.
That is democracy.
As for those Ebonyi North politicians supporting your aspiration, they too must explain their position to their people. Politics is ultimately a matter of conscience, conviction and choice.
Nobody should be intimidated into supporting a candidate merely because of zoning.
But nobody should equally be mocked for defending equity.
THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE
Dr. Odii, you have entered the race.
Governor Nwifuru is seeking continuity.
The PDP is presenting an alternative.
The APC is defending its record.
And the people of Ebonyi State will ultimately decide.
So, rather than asking Ebonyians to forget what has been done, show them what you would do better.
Rather than merely attacking the incumbent, build a stronger argument.
Rather than relying on political excitement, demonstrate sustainable grassroots structure.
And rather than assuming that popularity in some circles automatically translates into victory statewide, remember that an election is won by voters across the State, not by applause at political gatherings.
For now, Governor Nwifuru’s documented record gives his supporters substantial material with which to defend his administration. Your task, as his challenger, is to demonstrate with equal clarity why Ebonyians should choose a different path.
That is the real political examination before you in 2027.
Let the people judge the records.
Let them compare the programmes.
Let them examine the facts.
And let the ballot speak.
Peter Sunday Odom (PSO)
Ebonyi LGA, Ebonyi State
17th September, 2026.