Ebonyians Should Reject The PDP And Chika Nwoba's Redefinition Of Treachery And Treason As Election Strategy.
(Being the text of a press briefing held by the Director-general of Ebonyi-First Vanguard, Hon. Monday Eze, in Abakaliki on Thursday, 11th June, 2026)
1. Ebonyi-First Vanguard, a good governance group that prioritizes patriotism and the common good of Ebonyi people, has noted with dismay, the statement credited to Nwoba Chika Nwoba, spokesman of an opposition governorship candidate in Ebonyi State. In the infamous statement, Nwoba maligned Ebonyi State Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Uchenna Stephen Igwe; and called on elected public officers and Ebonyi citizens to “play double standard and disappoint the government"! Nwoba's inciting call deserves unequivocal condemnation.
2. Inasmuch as Ebonyi-First Vanguard supports holding government and public officers to account the vanguard does not encourage fabrication of lies against innocent government officials; and incitement of public officers and the citizenry to deliberately sabotage the government as those tantamount to insurgence. Ebonyi-First Vanguard hereby condemns in totality the villainous and unpatriotic call of Chika Nwoba and the PDP.
3. For the avoidance of doubts, government is not a person or a political party. Government is simply the collective instrument through which roads are built in Abakaliki, salaries are paid in Ikwo, hospitals run in Onicha, and schools function in Afikpo. Nwoba's call is not opposition; it is a betrayal of the people. Such counsel strips public service and humanity of honour. Such brazen display of unpatriotism and moral bankruptcy has no place in our democratic space.
4. At this juncture, Ebonyi First Vanguard wishes to debunk Nwoba's lies against Hon. Stephen Igwe and Ebonyi State government by juxtaposing the malicious fabrications with verifiable facts:
(a.) Ward councilors in Ebonyi State were trained for agribusiness to make them economically viable at the end of their tenures. So, the funds were meant as valedictory empowerment to be re-injected into the local economy via farming, food production and agribusiness. It was not meant for the personal use of the councilors.
(b.) Government transactions in Ebonyi State are electronically done and not by cash. So, there is no room for signing a higher sum and receiving less sum. Nwoba's allegation against Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Uchenna Stephen Igwe, and another un-named brother of the governor of Ebonyi State is fallacious.
(c.) Nigeria operates a multi-party democracy. Governor Nwifuru and his massive impregnable support base are not afraid of any contestant or political party, not to talk of the deeply fragmented Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This is because Nwifuru's legacy achievements in both infrastructure and "manfrastructure" or human capital development like the revival of the post-graduate scholarship programme through which over 1000 Ebonyi youths study in the UK and in local universities; the payment of the 30-year arrears of gratuities to Ebonyi retirees; the business grants to Ebonyi youths; the transformation of the health sector; the establishment of two specialized universities; the recruitment of thousands of Ebonyi youths into the civil service after over 10 years of embargo on employment; etc speak in higher decibels than legions of nominal candidates and their propaganda mercenaries put together. These unmatched people-centric projects and programmes constitute the banner over Nwifuru's re-election bid. They explain the infectious acceptance and solidarity which Builder Francis Nwifuru enjoys across the length and breadth of Ebonyi State.
(d.) In Ebonyi State, local government financial autonomy is in force. The LG chairmen key into legacy programmes of Ebonyi State government and save funds over time before implementation. So, Ebonyi State Local Government System works at its own pace as permitted by its financial capacity. This, in conjunction with the valedictory plan mentioned in paragraph 1 above, are responsible for the delay in the payment of the agribusiness start-up capital to the councilors. Ebonyians will recall this pattern even in the payment of arrears of workers' gratuities; and the implementation of the ₦20, 000 salary increment.
(e.) Councilors of the 171 electoral wards in Ebonyi State were elected pursuant to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. So, councilors cannot be "dissolved" as insinuated by Nwoba in his pedestrian broadcast. Rather, the councilors will vacate their offices at the expiration of their tenures.
5. Patriotism demands that Nwoba and his cohorts contest ideas, not tell lies and scheme to cripple the government. The ballot box, not the betrayal of duty, is how democracies change governments. Why have Nwoba and the man he spoke for chosen the path of anarchy over accountability? This is the very definition of moral bankruptcy: willing to break the state if you cannot control it. Ebonyi cannot afford such desperation!
6. Ebonyi-First Vanguard hereby charges every Ebonyian, especially those in public service, to eschew Nwoba Chika Nwoba, his principal and everything they represent. The allegiance of every Ebonyian is to the Constitution, not to the vaulting ambition of one individual.
7. Ebonyi people should not let the PDP and Chika Nwoba redefine treachery as strategy. Ebonyi people must isolate this brand of politics and affirm that in Ebonyi, we may disagree, but we do not destroy. We compete with vision, not with vandalism of the state.
8. Ebonyi State has survived neglect and underdevelopment to become the Salt of the Nation. We did not come this far to be taken back by apostles of double standards. Let us stand for duty, integrity, and the common good.
9. Reject PDP and Chika Nwoba. Reject sabotage. Choose Ebonyi.
10. God bless Ebonyi State.
Hon. Monday Eze
(Director-general, Ebonyi-First Vanguard)