The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has dismissed reports claiming that he is planning to withdraw from the 2027 governorship election and support Governor Francis Nwifuru.
Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks, said he remains firmly committed to contesting the Ebonyi State governorship election in 2027, describing reports of his alleged withdrawal as false.
His position was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Emmanuel Igwe, and made available to journalists in Abakaliki.
According to the statement, Odii has not agreed to abandon his governorship ambition, stressing that political discussions, negotiations or attempts to persuade him to step aside should not be presented as a decision already made by the PDP candidate.
The statement also challenged those behind the alleged report to provide evidence showing that Odii had announced his withdrawal from the 2027 Ebonyi governorship race.
“The publication suggesting that Anyichuks will withdraw is viewed by the Odii camp as a political narrative coming from those opposed to his candidacy,” the statement said.
The campaign further urged the media to distinguish between political speculation and confirmed decisions when reporting developments ahead of the 2027 Ebonyi State election.
It argued that while another politician may express an intention to persuade Odii to withdraw from the race, such an intention does not mean that the PDP candidate has agreed to step down.
The statement also challenged those behind the alleged report to provide evidence showing that Odii had announced his withdrawal from the 2027 Ebonyi governorship race.
Odii’s camp also appealed to journalists, bloggers and social media publishers to maintain professional standards when reporting political developments, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It warned that publications alleging political decisions by candidates should be backed by verifiable evidence and urged online publishers to be mindful of Nigeria’s laws governing online publications, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, as amended.
The development adds to the growing political activities in Ebonyi State as parties and aspirants position themselves ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
For now, Odii’s camp maintains that the PDP candidate remains in the Ebonyi governorship race and has not agreed to step down in favour of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
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