By Amaka Okafor
No fewer than 12 governorship candidates, comprising three women and nine men, are set to slug it out for the Ebonyi State Government House in the 2027 general elections, signalling a potentially keen contest for the state’s top political office.
The candidates, drawn from 12 political parties, are listed in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s final publication ahead of the election. The parties include the All Progressives Congress , Peoples Democratic Party , African Democratic Congress , Labour Party , New Nigeria Peoples Party and other political platforms.
Incumbent Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, 51, is listed as the APC candidate and will face 11 challengers seeking to unseat him. His major contender is the PDP candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, 51, who is making another bid to take over the state’s political leadership.
Other candidates include Ukpai Mba Udeh, 44, of the ADC; Okorie Ogochukwu, 39, of the African Democratic Party ; Nwodom Lucy Chinwe, 44, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Nwankwo Martha Ebere, 54, of the Action Peoples Party .
The list also features Ubasinachi Destiny Chimeremeze, 41, of the Democratic Leadership Alliance ; Eze Oko Splendour, 46, of the Labour Party; Igwe Nwagu Paulinus, 67, of the National Democratic Congress ; Ifeanyi Stephen Ojeogu, 47, of the NNPP; Kingsley Obinna Agbo, 49, of the Social Democratic Party ; and Juliet Nwinyinya, 50, of the Zenith Labour Party .
The 12-candidate race is expected to test the popularity of the incumbent administration, the electoral strength of opposition parties and the ability of the contenders to convince voters with their manifestoes and campaign promises. The presence of three female candidates also adds a gender dimension to the contest, providing women with an opportunity to compete for the state’s highest political office.
Speaking in an interview in Abakaliki on Thursday, a human rights lawyer, Mr Steve Ugama, commended the political parties for presenting candidates, describing opposition participation as an essential ingredient of democracy that gives voters the opportunity to make informed choices.
Ugama, however, urged the ruling APC and the state government to ensure a level playing field by allowing all candidates to campaign freely without intimidation, harassment or obstruction. He stressed that the government must provide adequate security to enable opposition parties to engage voters across the state.
“The ruling party and the state government should not create an atmosphere in which opposition candidates are prevented from campaigning freely. In every democracy, the minority will always have their say, while the majority will have their way,” he said.
He added: “What is unacceptable is a situation in which opposition elements are threatened or prevented from gathering. Government officials should not issue threats against opposition candidates or their supporters. What is expected of local government chairmen and other politically exposed persons is to create an enabling environment for all candidates to campaign and engage the electorate.”
The lawyer further urged candidates and their supporters to embrace peaceful conduct before, during and after the election, insisting that the credibility of the exercise would depend on whether the eventual results reflected the wishes of the electorate.
“It would not have been good if there were no opposition candidates because that would deny the people the opportunity to make a choice. Now, we have 12 candidates from whom the electorate can choose,” Ugama said.
He also appealed to unsuccessful candidates to accept the outcome peacefully, while reserving the right to seek legal redress where necessary. “If you disagree with the outcome, you have the right to approach the court and challenge the results in accordance with the law. We wish all the candidates the best and hope that there will be a free and fair election in Ebonyi State,” he added.