2027: Former LG Chairman urges Ebonyi governor to prioritize merit, warns against rewarding crisis actors

Former Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Timothy Odah, on Monday advised the Ebonyi State Governor, Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, to adopt a merit-based approach in finalizing political outcomes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Odah, in an open letter to the governor, asserted the need for careful vetting of aspirants, particularly for the Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency seat, urging that competence and verifiable results of grassroots empowerment take precedence over personal alliances and incumbency advantage.

“Leadership is not a Santa Claus show,” he said, warning against promoting candidates without a proven ability to deliver results.

The former council leader also expressed concern about the fragile peace in Effium, warning that allowing individuals allegedly linked to past communal unrest to contest elective positions could undermine ongoing reconciliation efforts.

He insisted that those indicted by the state peace committee over the Effium crisis should not be given political platforms, stressing that such a move would set a dangerous precedent and risk reigniting tensions in the troubled community.