Ebonyi 2027: Ivo stakeholders laud Nwifuru’s inclusive governance

Member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Nkemkama Kama, and other stakeholders in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for promoting peace, political cohesion and inclusiveness across the state.

They said the governor’s approach to governance had created an atmosphere conducive to development and positioned Ebonyi for greater political and economic stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kama spoke on Thursday while fielding questions from journalists at the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally in Ivo LGA ahead of the August 22, 2026 local government elections.

Kama described the rally as a demonstration of the APC’s strength and popularity in the area, attributing the large turnout to the confidence of the people in the party and the Nwifuru administration.

“There’s only one party and that party is APC. It’s a party affair, it’s a local government affair. It went very well, as you can see,” he said.

The federal lawmaker charged elected and incoming local government officials to prioritise service, accountability and legacy, urging them to ensure that public resources and opportunities get to the people.

 “Try to leave legacies. Try to rule your people with dignity. Make sure that whatever belongs to them gets to them,” he said.

Kama also urged opposition parties and the media to make their criticisms constructive and evidence-based, saying the APC-led administration would respond to allegations with verifiable projects and records rather than propaganda.

“We shouldn’t dwell on propaganda. We put facts for them. That’s the way to answer propaganda,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged that no government was perfect, urging critics to recognise achievements while pointing out areas requiring improvement.

 According to him, constructive criticism would attract government attention more effectively than blanket condemnation.

Kama particularly praised Governor Nwifuru for what he described as his ability to accommodate diverse political interests, saying the governor had made stakeholders feel recognised and involved in governance.

“People are looking for recognition, relevance and importance. He has been able to make everybody feel important, part and parcel of the government, and has brought everybody together,” he said.

Describing Nwifuru as possessing “native intelligence,” Kama said the governor’s political dexterity and ability to work with different stakeholders had contributed to the prevailing peace in Ebonyi.

He stressed that peace was fundamental to economic activities, investment and infrastructure development.

“Peace is the fundamental, the bedroom of every development you can think of. Without peace, people will not gather here. Without peace, you cannot even go for this rally,” Kama said.

The Executive Chairman of Ivo LGA, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, also commended the governor and other stakeholders for sustaining peace in the area, saying his administration had prioritised infrastructure, education, security, empowerment and community reconciliation.

He listed completed markets, bridges, roads, courts and other public facilities among the projects executed by his administration.

Ajah, however, identified peace, unity and security as his administration’s major achievements, particularly efforts to reconcile communities and stakeholders previously divided by disagreements.

 “My greatest achievement is the peace that I brought in; unity, peace and security, not only in Ivo Local Government Area but across the state,” he said.

The APC State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, cautioned the people against what he described as “politics of gambling,” urging them to uphold zoning, equity and political rotation, which he said had contributed to political stability in Ebonyi.

He urged voters to support APC candidates in the August 22 local government elections.

Presenting the APC flag to the party’s chairmanship candidate for Ivo LGA, Governor Nwifuru, represented by his Deputy, Princess Patricia Onyemaechi Obila, urged the electorate to remain united and support candidates capable of consolidating the administration’s development agenda at the grassroots.

Other stakeholders, including Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Development, Chief Chinedu Nkah; former Ivo LGA chairman, Chief James Aro Nweke; former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Uchenna Orji; and President of Ishiagu Community Development Union, Chief Moses Ajah, also expressed support for the APC and commended the administration’s emphasis on peace, unity and development.

The rally attracted politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youths, students, academics, business operators and market women, with stakeholders maintaining that sustained political stability remained essential for attracting investment, executing development projects and improving citizens’ welfare ahead of the August 22 local government elections and the 2027 general elections.