Following the claim by the People Democratic Party PDP Guber Candidate in next year general election Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii that he will attract more than ₦2 trillion private investment into the state within six months if elected governor of Ebonyi state, the Ebonyi South Youths Assembly on Wednesday told Ebonyians to asked the PDP Guber Candidate to show verifiable documents of his investment and his local business footprint.

The Youths Assembly was reacting to a comment by Odii while addressing supporters and party stakeholders in Lagos that he had a channel of more than 2,000 prospective investors capable of investing about ₦1 billion each in Ebonyi.

But ESYA in a quick reaction questioned the rationale by which Odii who has no single investment in the state could assemble 2000 investors to invest 1bn in the state within six months if elected governor of Ebonyi describing the claim as laughable.

These contained in a statement by the Group in Abakaliki signed by it National President Comrade Njoku Odii challenged the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate to provide verifiable documents and an implementation framework for his claims.

The calculation, according to reports of the event, would amount to more than ₦2 trillion, with mining, hospitality, real estate, agriculture, manufacturing and technology identified among the sectors targeted under the proposed investment drive.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Njoku said the scale and timeframe of the proposed investment warranted public scrutiny, particularly regarding the identity of prospective investors, their commitments, proposed projects and locations.

He said: “Where are these 2,000 investors? What are their names? Where are their letters of commitment, memoranda of understanding, expressions of interest or investment plans? Which of them have inspected locations in Ebonyi, and what specific projects are they prepared to establish?”

Njoku said the questions were intended to establish the factual basis of the investment projection rather than discourage private-sector participation in the state.

“Investment is not arithmetic on a campaign podium. Two thousand multiplied by one billion naira is a calculation; it is not yet an investment. The people need to see the projects, the investors, the commitments and the timelines,” he said.

He also questioned the timing of the pledge, asking why the proposed investment mobilisation was being prominently presented as the 2027 governorship election approaches.

The youth leader further asked whether Odii had established significant commercial enterprises in Ebonyi before making the investment pledge, urging the PDP candidate to identify any existing local businesses, factories, processing plants, hotels, agricultural enterprises, technology ventures or other substantial investments associated with him in the state.

“We would also like to know whether Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii has a single shop either in his village or any part of Ebonyi State, especially the Abakaliki capital city,” he said.

Njoku, however, cautioned against making unsubstantiated allegations concerning Odii’s private assets, saying any assessment of his business activities should be based on documentary evidence.

“We are not interested in rumours about who owns what in Lagos, Abuja or anywhere else. Let every claim be tested against verifiable evidence. If there are major investments, let them be identified. If there are investment commitments for Ebonyi, let the documents speak,” he said.

Odii has said his proposed investment programme would create jobs and expand the state’s productive base, while his administration would seek to improve the business environment through infrastructure and reduced bureaucratic barriers.

Njoku said Ebonyi had considerable investment opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, hospitality, commerce and technology, but stressed that political promises should ultimately be measured by identifiable projects, employment, tax revenue and local value chains.

He also referenced programmes and projects attributed to the incumbent administration, including interventions in agriculture, healthcare, education, water infrastructure, employment opportunities already secured, human capital development and the reported revitalisation of previously moribund public assets.

The Ebonyi State government says it is seeking to promote sustainable growth and investment, while its official investor information identifies opportunities in areas including agriculture, solid minerals and the labour market.

Njoku therefore called for an evidence-based debate ahead of the 2027 election.

“Ebonyians deserve a debate based on evidence. Anyone promising ₦2 trillion within six months should tell the people precisely how, from whom, where, when and under what investment framework that money will enter the state,” he said.

He urged political actors to place verifiable records, detailed programmes and measurable commitments before the electorate rather than relying solely on projected financial figures.