The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi State has endorsed Governor Francis Nwifuru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 governorship election following the withdrawal of its governorship candidate, Chief Mrs Lucy Odom, from the race.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Comrade Splendour Oko, has unveiled plans to restructure Ebonyi State’s economy if elected, promising reforms in education, security, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and youth employment.
The two political developments signal growing political activities ahead of the 2027 Ebonyi governorship election, with parties beginning to consolidate alliances and present their policy priorities to voters.
Odom announced her decision to step down in favour of Governor Nwifuru after consultations with APGA members, political stakeholders and other influential interests within the state.
She explained that the decision followed extensive discussions and was informed by similarities between APGA’s development priorities and the programmes of the Nwifuru administration.
According to her, the party considered continued cooperation with the incumbent governor a better option for sustaining development in Ebonyi State.
Odom said the decision was reached after considerable deliberation and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
She reaffirmed her commitment to the political understanding reached by the party, describing the alliance as an opportunity to consolidate ongoing development efforts.
The endorsement was announced on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during a gathering of APGA’s state and national leaders, candidates and other party stakeholders in Abakaliki.
Reacting to the development, APGA’s Ebonyi North Senatorial District candidate, Chief Chikaodili Ojimba, described the endorsement as a significant political realignment ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ojimba commended Odom and her running mate, Terry Alu, for what he described as their sacrifice, trust and commitment to the collective interest of the party.
He assured them that APGA would recognise their contributions and would not take their decision for granted.
He also urged party members to return to their respective constituencies and mobilise grassroots support for Nwifuru’s re-election.
According to Ojimba, the endorsement was influenced by the achievements of the Nwifuru administration, particularly in infrastructure development, peace and stability.
However, he cautioned supporters against violence, insisting that electoral victory should be pursued through peaceful engagement and strategic mobilisation.
“Violence does not win an election,” he warned.
Similarly, APGA’s candidate for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Barrister Tochukwu Ogalagu, popularly known as T-Man, described the alliance as evidence of cooperation among progressive political forces.
Ogalagu urged party supporters to disregard suggestions of hostility between APGA and the ruling APC, explaining that the arrangement was designed to strengthen both parties’ political interests and support the Nwifuru administration’s development agenda.
He maintained that political differences should not prevent constructive collaboration, stressing that the ultimate responsibility of political parties was to deliver democratic dividends to the people.
Ogalagu further urged APGA members to intensify grassroots mobilisation, adding that the endorsement was the beginning of a broader political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.
While APGA has thrown its weight behind Nwifuru, Labour Party governorship candidate Comrade Splendour Oko has promised to introduce sweeping economic and institutional reforms if elected governor of Ebonyi State in 2027.
Oko made the pledge during the official flag-off of his governorship campaign in Afikpo, where he outlined his priorities for transforming the state’s economy and improving residents’ living conditions.
He identified electricity, security, education, youth empowerment and road infrastructure as key areas requiring urgent government attention.
On education, the Labour Party candidate promised to rehabilitate dilapidated primary and secondary schools across Ebonyi State.
He also pledged to restore free, compulsory and quality basic education, arguing that children should have access to functional learning facilities regardless of their economic backgrounds.
Oko criticised the prioritisation of flyovers and tunnels in Abakaliki while several roads in urban and rural communities remained in poor condition.
He said his administration would give greater attention to constructing and rehabilitating ordinary roads rather than prioritising expensive urban infrastructure projects.
On agriculture, he promised increased investment in mechanised farming, lamenting that Ebonyi’s agricultural potential had been neglected.
He argued that the state’s fertile farmlands should be put to productive use to strengthen food production, create employment and diversify the economy.
For security, Oko proposed the introduction of community policing, with plans to recruit young people into local security networks and provide them with improved remuneration.
He said the initiative would strengthen security at the grassroots and improve the state’s capacity to respond to threats.
The LP candidate also promised to ensure the timely payment of the agreed minimum wage to civil servants.
Additionally, he proposed providing grants to workers to enable them to establish supplementary businesses and improve their financial stability.
On healthcare, Oko pledged to establish community health centres across all 171 electoral wards in Ebonyi State.
He said the proposed facilities would improve access to basic medical services, particularly in underserved communities, and help reduce preventable deaths.
Calling on Ebonyi residents to support his governorship ambition, Oko urged voters to choose the Labour Party in the 2027 election.
He described a vote for the party as a vote for what he called the liberation and accelerated development of Ebonyi State.
The candidate also directed supporters to identify the Labour Party’s logo, popularly represented by the image of a mother, father and child, on the ballot.
With APGA’s endorsement of Nwifuru and the Labour Party’s economic reform promises, the political contest ahead of the 2027 Ebonyi governorship election is beginning to take shape.
While the APGA-APC alliance could strengthen the incumbent governor’s political support base, Oko’s promises place education, rural infrastructure, agriculture, security and accessible healthcare at the centre of the Labour Party’s campaign.
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