Leaders and stakeholders from Ebonyi State have endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru for a second term ahead of the 2027 general elections, attributing their decision largely to the performance of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and the developmental strides of both administrations.

The endorsement was made at the weekend during a gathering of the Ebonyi community and political stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, where the stakeholders also threw their weight behind all National Assembly members from the state for re-election.

Moving the motion for the endorsement, the Senate Deputy Chief Whip and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, said the South-East had benefited significantly under President Tinubu’s administration, particularly with the appointment of Umahi as Minister of Works.

According to him, it was the first time since Nigeria’s independence in 1960 that an indigene of Ebonyi State and an Igbo man had been entrusted with the Ministry of Works.

He said the minister’s performance had strengthened public confidence in the Tinubu administration and positioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for victory in the next general elections.

“We are determined to deliver a bloc vote for the APC. Since 1960, it is the first time an Igbo man and an Ebonyi indigene has been appointed Minister of Works.

“Nigerians saw what David Umahi achieved as Governor of Ebonyi State and what he is doing today as Minister of Works.

“Before now, travelling from Enugu to Aba and Port Harcourt could take up to six hours, but under President Bola Tinubu and Minister Umahi, the road is being dualised and transformed.

“The impact of this administration is visible across the South-East and other parts of the country,” he said.

Nwaebonyi also cited ongoing work on the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt highway and the Ebonyi-Benue road, the latter following a motion he sponsored in the Senate, as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructure development.

He equally commended Governor Nwifuru for what he described as remarkable achievements within three years in office, including the establishment of two universities and investments in infrastructure and human capital development.

Speaking, Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Anthony Ani, said the endorsement reflected the collective decision of Ebonyi stakeholders, expressing confidence that both Tinubu and Nwifuru deserved another term based on their performance.

Chairman of the Central Planning Committee and Federal Commissioner representing Ebonyi State at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Henry Nduka Awuregu, said the endorsement was based on the proven capacity, vision and achievements of both leaders.

He praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, saying they had laid the foundation for long-term economic growth.

Awuregu also pointed to improvements in investor confidence, rising external reserves, increased oil production, ongoing investments in roads, housing, agriculture, rail modernisation, power sector reforms, security and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as evidence of progress under the current administration.

On the state government, he said Nwifuru had made significant progress through the People’s Charter of Needs agenda, citing road construction, urban renewal, youth and women empowerment programmes, payment of gratuities, industrial development, agricultural interventions and community peace initiatives.

He urged members of the Ebonyi community and the FON Youth Movement to mobilise support for President Tinubu, Governor Nwifuru and all APC candidates from the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The event was attended by senators, members of the House of Representatives, political appointees, traditional rulers and other prominent stakeholders from Ebonyi State