The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the exclusion of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election.
Ogah, an APC lawmaker from Ebonyi State, argued that Governor Nwifuru deserves a prominent position in the campaign structure because of his commitment to the party, his efforts to strengthen the APC in Ebonyi and his role in promoting unity among party stakeholders.
The lawmaker made the appeal while discussing the composition of the APC presidential campaign structure, which includes several influential political figures from the South-East.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, serves as secretary of the campaign council, while former Ebonyi State Governor and Minister of Works, David Umahi, is Deputy Director-General in charge of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation. Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, was also named South-East Zonal Campaign Coordinator.
Other prominent South-East figures include Senator Uche Ekwunife, who is listed as the South-East Zonal Director for Election Planning, Coordination and Mobilisation.
However, Governor Nwifuru was not listed among the principal members of the campaign council.
Ogah said Nwifuru’s absence from the APC presidential campaign structure could create concerns among voters and political stakeholders in Ebonyi State.
He particularly highlighted the Abakaliki bloc, comprising eight local government areas, describing it as an important political constituency whose influence should be considered ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to the lawmaker, the APC should recognise the political weight of the bloc and ensure that Ebonyi State is adequately represented in the President’s campaign structure.
“I started the Tinubu Support Group. I am speaking as an APC member from Ebonyi State. I have served this party just like Governor Nwifuru,” Ogah said.
The lawmaker recalled that his support for Tinubu’s political ambition began years before the 2023 election, saying he established the Tinubu support movement in 2017.
Ogah also recalled that he became the first APC candidate to win a House of Representatives seat in Ebonyi State when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was still dominant in the state.
Ogah further pointed to the APC’s current control of Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, arguing that the political importance of the three states should be reflected in the party’s campaign arrangements.
He questioned why the governors of Imo and Enugu were given strategic responsibilities while Ebonyi’s governor was left out.
“When the other two governors were included, why was Ebonyi not included? That election is about the people that are popular. It is the people that will give out votes. The Abakaliki bloc cannot be neglected in the presidential list,” he said.
The lawmaker maintained that Nwifuru’s inclusion would help ensure that Ebonyi voters feel represented and carried along in Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
Ogah described the governor’s omission as an error that should be addressed by the APC leadership.
He also urged President Tinubu to disregard what he described as unfounded claims against Nwifuru, warning that political disagreements should not undermine the unity of the APC in Ebonyi State.
“The President should not listen to whatever anybody can come to give him as a frivolous story. It is not a threat. But if the governor is not included, people will not be happy,” he said.
Ogah praised Nwifuru for his efforts to improve unity among APC stakeholders in Ebonyi, particularly through consultations with party leaders and other political actors.
He argued that these efforts had helped reduce divisions within the party and strengthen its internal cohesion.
The lawmaker also said the governor’s grassroots support and administration’s development efforts should make him an important figure in the APC’s 2027 campaign strategy.
Ogah stressed that electoral success depends largely on structures and support at the grassroots rather than social media popularity.
“Election is not won on Facebook,” he said, urging the Presidency and APC leadership to focus on political realities and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.
He further claimed that a large majority of Ebonyi residents support Governor Nwifuru and warned that excluding the governor from the campaign structure could create dissatisfaction among his supporters.
Ogah ultimately appealed to President Tinubu and the APC national leadership to add Nwifuru to the presidential campaign council.
According to him, involving the Ebonyi governor would strengthen party unity, improve grassroots mobilisation and potentially boost the APC’s electoral prospects in Ebonyi State and the wider South-East ahead of the 2027 general election.
Stay updated with Ebonyi News Network for real-time reports, in-depth analysis, and exclusive coverage of policies shaping Ebonyi State.
