Political leaders and stakeholders in Ebonyi State on Tuesday said that zoning formula adopted by their founding fathers remains agreeing that such arrangement if maintained will give sense of belonging to the three zones that make up the zone.

They took the decision during the Ebonyi State Leaders and Stakeholders’ Political Summit held at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki. They noted that since others zones Central and South, have taken their turns of eight years, the North should also be allow to complete their eight years.

While reaffirming the governorship zoning arrangement and proposing that power should return to Ebonyi Central in 2031 and Ebonyi South in 2039, the Stakeholders unanimously endorsed Governor Francis Nwifuru for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 governorship election,

The summit endorsed Nwifuru through a unanimous voice vote following a motion moved by the senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Onyekachi Nwebonyi.

Governor Nwifuru was represented at the event by his deputy, Princess Patricia Obila.

The summit, which attracted prominent political leaders and stakeholders from the three senatorial zones and 13 local government areas of the state, was convened under the theme, “Orderly and Peaceful Political Transition in Ebonyi State: The Way Forward.”

Among the prominent figures in attendance were the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Sam Egwu; former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; former governor Martin Elechi; and former governor and Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.

In a communiqué read by the Senior Special Adviser to President Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagement Southeast, Mrs Chioma Nweze at the end of the deliberations, the stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to peace, unity, political stability and continuity in governance, describing these principles as critical to the state’s sustained development.

On the governorship zoning arrangement, the summit advocated the continuation of the rotational system among the three senatorial districts, noting that the arrangement had provided a framework for political inclusion, equity and peaceful coexistence since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

The communiqué observed that the state’s first three elected governors, Egwu from Ebonyi North, Elechi from Ebonyi Central and Umahi from Ebonyi South, each of them served two four-year terms respectively.

According to the stakeholders, the sequence of leadership transitions established a precedent for political accommodation and respect for the interests of the three senatorial zones.

Consequently, the summit resolved that Ebonyi North should retain the governorship through the 2027 electoral cycle, with the position scheduled to rotate to Ebonyi Central in 2031 and subsequently to Ebonyi South in 2039.

Under the proposed arrangement, Ebonyi North would occupy the governorship from 2023 to 2031, Ebonyi Central from 2031 to 2039 and Ebonyi South from 2039 to 2047, with each zone entitled to an eight-year tenure.

The summit also called for the equitable distribution of public amenities and development projects across the senatorial districts, stressing that fairness, justice and inclusiveness were indispensable to maintaining harmony among the state’s diverse political and social constituencies.

On governance, the stakeholders commended Nwifuru’s administration for its development initiatives under the People’s Charter of Needs, urging the government to sustain its focus on infrastructure, rural development, education, healthcare, agriculture, food security and human capital development.

They also identified women’s empowerment and youth development as important areas requiring continued attention to expand opportunities and improve the welfare of residents.

Addressing concerns over the political transition, the summit urged political leaders, public office holders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and citizens to safeguard the state’s unity, irrespective of party affiliation or other differences.

It called on political parties, aspirants and their supporters to conduct their activities with restraint, mutual respect and a commitment to democratic principles, warning against inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation, hate speech, misinformation and political violence capable of undermining public order.

The stakeholders further urged politicians to pursue their ambitions through lawful and democratic means, respect the rights of other citizens and recognise the responsibilities of relevant institutions in the electoral process.

They called on political parties, aspirants, security agencies, electoral authorities and the media to work collectively towards credible, peaceful and orderly elections in 2027.

The communiqué also emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue across political divides, urging leaders to resolve disagreements through consultation rather than actions capable of generating avoidable tension during the transition period.

The participants expressed appreciation to representatives of the 13 local government areas, political parties and community organisations who attended the summit, reaffirming their commitment to building an Ebonyi State that is peaceful, united, inclusive and development-oriented.

The communiqué was signed by Umahi, Anyim, Egwu and other leaders on behalf of the summit.

The endorsement of Nwifuru and the proposed zoning timetable emerged as the major political resolutions of the gathering, which sought to establish a common framework for political engagement and peaceful succession ahead of the 2027 elections.