The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ebonyi, Chief Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii, has dismissed allegations by the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Mr Chinedu Ogah, that he has been sponsoring cyberbullying campaigns against Ebonyi government.

Odii, also known as “AnyiChuks” in a statement to journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, described the allegation as baseless and an attempt to criminalise legitimate criticism and divert attention from issues of governance in the state.

He maintained that demanding accountability from elected public officials was a constitutional right of citizens and should not be misconstrued as cyberbullying or cyberstalking.

“Since when did asking questions become cyberbullying? Since when did demanding a scorecard become cyberstalking?” Odii asked.

He noted that Ebonyi people deserved to know how public resources allocated to the state had been utilised, insisting that citizens had the right to demand transparency and good governance.

According to him, criticism of government policies and performance is an essential feature of democracy and should not be interpreted as an attack on any individual.

The PDP governorship candidate also denied allegations that he was influencing officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register underage voters, describing the accusation as reckless, defamatory and without evidence.

He urged the lawmaker to forward any evidence in his possession to the appropriate security agencies instead of making what he described as unsubstantiated allegations in the media.

The PDP candidate pledged to continue criticising the government in areas requiring improvement and commend it where it performs well.

Odii added that he would continue to advocate transparency, accountability and inclusive development, stressing that responsible opposition was vital to democratic governance.

Odii said he would not be intimidated into silence, adding that the people of the state would ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogah, at a press conference recently accused Odii of sponsoring cyberbullying and propaganda against the Ebonyi government led by Governor Nwifuru

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said he is unlikely to contest the presidency after the 2027 general election.

Speaking in an interview with media personality Rufai Oseni, the former Anambra State governor said his decision is linked to Nigeria’s informal zoning arrangement, which rotates the presidency between the North and the South.

“For me, it depends on what happens. I don’t want to say it because people might think that I’m saying it because of some people,” Obi said.

He recalled answering a similar question from a secondary school student, explaining that if he does not become president in 2027, the presidency is expected to shift to the North in 2031.

“I said because if I don’t run now, by the next time it comes, believing in the zoning formula, it will go to the North,” he said.

“If it goes North in 2031, by the time it comes again to the South, I will be 78 years old, and I don’t think I would be doing this at that age.”
He said he could only consider another presidential bid if the presidency remained in the South in 2031, but stressed that such a scenario is unlikely.

“If it’s still in the South in the next election, maybe, but the probability is very slim. I don’t know until after the 2027 election,” he said.

Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago of Niger State has retained his Deputy, Yakubu Garba, as running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

The governor made the announcement on Tuesday at the Government House in Minna, the state capital.

“According to the provision of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when the governor is to submit a nomination to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, he shall nominate a deputy governor.

“In the last few months, a lot of things have been in the air. So, I have called you to come and witness that my Deputy, Yakubu Garba, is still my running mate in 2027,” Bago said.

Garba is a retired civil servant and politician from Shiroro Local Government Area of the state, who has served as the state’s Deputy governor since May 29, 2023.

Prior to becoming Deputy governor, he represented Shiroro Constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, where he held several leadership positions.

He has also served in different capacities in the state civil service before venturing into active politics.

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