By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Ebonyi State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, on Sunday April 13, 2025, vehemently rejected insinuations making the round that Governor Francis Nwifuru will serve only one term in office.
The Source reports that there have been intense speculations suggesting that part of the deal that landed Governor Nwufuru his position in 2023 was for him to relinquish power in 2027.
It will be recalled that Nwifuru had served as the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly during the Adminstration of Engr Dave Umahi, now Minister of Works.
His near absolute loyalty, and ability to place the state legislative body at the whims and caprices of then Governor Umahi ,was said to have earned him the unflinching confidence of the former Governor ,thus paving the way for him to succeed him as a reward.
However ,rumours have been rife in recent weeks ,indicating that Governor Nwifuru may have entered into an unwritten agreement with his benefactors to serve for only one term in office .
Mid last year both godfather and godson battled relentlessly to dispel rumoured rifts ,arising from disagreements over contract awards and appointments.
The speculated face off almost boiled over ,during the count down to the state’s local Council election, ,with the Nwifuru’s camp alleging a hijack of the process by loyalists of Umahi.
Although ,the two camps later withdrew to their shells,after the council polls, rumours of a resurgence in their cold war have dominated discussions within the state political space in the last few weeks.
However ,the Ebonyi APC ,in statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson Ogbuatu Chidi Simbad ,described any claim of an agreement limiting Governor Nwifuru’s tenure to one ,as not only false ,but misleading.
He blamed the unnecessary debate over the Governor’s tenure on some outside forces bent on distracting and confusing the people.
The APC maintained that it has been the practice for every Governor in the state to serve two terms, insisting that Governor Nwifuru’s case will not be an exception.
“Let this be clear: Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is not leaving after four years .There was no agreement to the contrary ,and any such claim is false and misleading.
“There was never any agreement to stop a man who is fulfilling destiny .Let this be clear. Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is not leaving after four years.
“There was no agreement to the contrary, and any such claim is false and misleading.
“It is a fact that since the creation of Ebonyi State, no Governor has ever served for just one term.History supports continuity, and today is no different.
“Now a few individuals who once watched from the sideline are trying to distract and confuse the people. But their imagination only reveals the content of their own minds .Ebonyians know better”, Simbad stated.
The APC spokesman warned that the party will not be browbeaten, and will not succumb to the manipulative antics of some reactionary forces.
The party, therefore, expressed its unalloyed confidence in the abilities of Governor Nwifuru to fulfill his electioneering promises to the people,as well as take Ebonyi state to this next level.
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