The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has declared his intention to re- contest the 2027 gubernatorial race under the platform of the PDP, saying his mandate cannot be stolen again.

Odii said he is contesting the Ebonyi State governorship position because there has not been any improvement in the lives of the people and the economy of the state.

The PDP Chieftain, who spoke to journalists after he submitted his nomination forms and was successfully screened by the PDP’s screening panel at the Legacy House, Abuja, said, ” Ebonyi State requires leadership ” at this critical time.

He claimed that since the 2023 general election, poverty has rather increased in Ebonyi despite the huge federal allocations that have accrued to the state, noting that Ebonyi urgently needs someone with the capacity for “economic and human capital development.”

Odii said, “Poverty and insecurity have continued to increase in Ebonyi State, and that is why we have decided to get it right this time.”

The politician noted that for democracy to grow, there has to be a strong opposition, noting that any opposition with constructive ideas is welcome.

He insisted that any government or society that says there should be no opposition is a dictatorship and will not be allowed in Ebonyi State.

“So we have come today to let the whole world know that ‘Anyichuks’ is now running to be the governor of Ebonyi State.

“When they are talking about ‘you are not from North, you are not from Izzi, and all that, I am from Ebonyi State, before Izzi, before Onicha local government, the day I was born, I was born as somebody from Ebonyi State. Ebonyi State is not going to be governed on the basis of clannish politics,” he said.

Odii, who expressed confidence that he will secure the PDP ticket at the primary election, also assured the PDP and his supporters that their mandate will not be stolen again in 2027.

Kabiru Bello Bandawaire, an aspirant for the Taraba North Senatorial District seat, has rejected the consensus arrangement being considered ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC primaries, insisting on direct and transparent primaries.

Speaking with journalists on Friday in Jalingo, Bandawaire said his ambition was driven by the desire to represent the people rather than serve government interests.

He argued that the consensus option undermines democratic principles and warned against any form of interference in the process by Governor Agbu Kefas.

According to him, democracy thrives when party members are allowed to freely choose their candidates through open primaries.

“First and foremost, it is not about the government, it is about the people. I am representing the interest of the people.

“On this issue of consensus, I am not consenting to it at all. All I want is direct primaries, and direct primaries should be carried out under a transparent process. The beauty of democracy is that the majority is always welcome.” he said.

Hon. Kabiru Bello Bandawaire, an aspirant for the Taraba North Senatorial District seat, has rejected the consensus arrangement being considered ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, insisting on direct and transparent primaries.

Speaking with journalists on Friday in Jalingo, Bandawaire said his ambition was driven by the desire to represent the people rather than serve government interests.

He argued that the consensus option undermines democratic principles and warned against any form of interference in the process by Governor Agbu Kefas.

According to him, democracy thrives when party members are allowed to freely choose their candidates through open primaries.

“First and foremost, it is not about the government, it is about the people. I am representing the interest of the people,” he said.

“On this issue of consensus, I am not consenting to it at all. All I want is direct primaries, and direct primaries should be carried out under a transparent process. The beauty of democracy is that the majority is always welcome.”

Bandawaire also questioned why a serving three-term senator would prefer consensus over a competitive primary election.

“What is the fear about? If you opt for consensus in the primary election, what about the general elections? That is not democracy,” he stated.

The APC aspirant cautioned Governor Kefas against meddling in the party’s internal process, warning that such actions could have negative consequences.

He maintained that the governor should allow party members to decide their candidate through direct primaries without interference.

Responding to comments reportedly made during a recent stakeholders’ meeting that party primaries amount to a waste of resources, Bandawaire said funding the process was the responsibility of the party and not the state government.

“The party sold forms, we purchased forms. I purchased a form for N20,000,000, as did others, so the party has the responsibility to fund its activities, not the state government,” he said.

Bandawaire further challenged the governor to test the consensus arrangement by asking the incumbent senator representing the northern district to step down for him.

“Since I am not consenting to consensus, let the governor try whether the northern senator will consent to consensus by choosing me, and see whether he will agree. If he is not going to agree, why should I agree?” he added.

Bandawaire also questioned why a serving three-term senator would prefer consensus over a competitive primary election.

“What is the fear about? If you opt for consensus in the primary election, what about the general elections? That is not democracy,” he stated.

The APC aspirant cautioned Governor Kefas against meddling in the party’s internal process, warning that such actions could have negative consequences.

He maintained that the governor should allow party members to decide their candidate through direct primaries without interference.

Responding to comments reportedly made during a recent stakeholders’ meeting that party primaries amount to a waste of resources, Bandawaire said funding the process was the responsibility of the party and not the state government.

“The party sold forms, we purchased forms. I purchased a form for N20,000,000, as did others, so the party has the responsibility to fund its activities, not the state government,” he said.

He further challenged the governor to test the consensus arrangement by asking the incumbent senator representing the northern district to step down for him.

“Since I am not consenting to consensus, let the governor try whether the northern senator will consent to consensus by choosing me, and see whether he will agree. If he is not going to agree, why should I agree?” he added.