Ebonyi 2023: ‘Imposition of successor will not be accepted,’ RMAFC boss, Mbam counters Umahi

Barely hours after reportedly anointing the state’s House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Francis Nwifuru as his successor, the embattled Governor David Umahi has come under another fire from a chieftain of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party in Ebonyi, Chief Elias Mbam.

Mbam who is the current chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is also a governorship aspirant in Ebonyi, lambasted Governor Umahi for imposing a candidate on the people of the state, saying ‘the Electoral Act, APC’s Constitution, and indeed other extant documents on elections in Nigeria did not make provisions for the imposition of aspirants on any political party.’

According to Mbam, the imposition of governorship candidate on the party will not work.

Mbam, stated this at a news conference, Sunday in Abakaliki, was reacting to a statement credited to Gov. Dave Umahi, endorsing Hon. Nwifuru, as his successor and APC candidate for the 2023 governorship election in the state.

It would be recalled that Umahi had announced Hon. Nwifuru as his successor during the internment ceremony of late Chief Dandy Igweomoke, father of the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Barrister Chioma Nweze in Okposi, Ohaozara local government area, Friday.

The Governor appealed to the people of Ebonyi South zone and all Ebonyians to support the candidature of the Speaker for the sake of equity, justice, and fairness.

Nwifuru hails from Ebonyi North zone of the state.

Umahi said: “To Okposi people and people of Ebonyi State, I present to you the choice of the people in the person of the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru and I want Ebonyi South people to know that when it was the turn of Ebonyi South, an Abakaliki man was contesting and the Abakaliki people said no, so it is the time to pay them back.

“I want to assure you that this Divine Mandate we came with would continue and when this man comes onboard we would not turn left and right from Divine Mandate, so fear not, there is nobody that is thrown up by God that the people would not criticize.

“If people do not accept the sacrifices you are making, God will not disregard it, you can see that his children are very successful, some are Doctors, some are lawyers, and so on.

“2023 has to be ticking of the box, it will not be about promises, if you say you will do B, we have to ask you to prove how you will do A.

“In all honesty, it is my performance and that of others that APC will use to do their campaign.

“I ask you to continue to support our Government, we have only one party and this party we are in now will continue with the development of Ebonyi State from wherever we would stop.

“Let the next President come from South for equity, justice, and fairness, if the Presidency is not zoned to the southeast by PDP and APC, they should tell the people why.”

However, reacting to Umahi’s choice of Nwifuru as successor, Mbam warned that the gEbonyi governor’s endorsement and adoption of the speaker could cause an implosion in the party and mar its chances of electoral victory in the state in the forthcoming general elections.

According to him, the unilateral decision did not receive the approval of critical stakeholders of the party, and therefore will not be accepted.

“I heard the statement like every other person; I wasn’t at the venue where the statement was made, and I haven’t been communicated on that.

“But, I’m concerned and worried as a critical stakeholder of our party because if the statement is correct, it means he has closed the political space against potential aspirants.

“Though forms have not yet been sold, I do not think it is good for our party.

“INEC and the party have emphasised that there should be no imposition of candidates.

“If in the disguise of anointing or endorsement, a candidate is imposed on the party, it will not be in the interest of the party.

“And it will close the space against other aspirants, and we will run the risk of losing the 2023 election,” Mbam said.

The RMAFC chairman urged the governor, as the leader of APC in Ebonyi to allow a level playing field for all the aspirants in the race for the party’s governorship ticket.

“I know the governor is the leader of the party in the state; and so, all of us who are members of the party in the state are his children.

”I expect, as the father of the party, he will give every child equal opportunity, and allow the people to determine who becomes their governor,” he added.

The aspirant, however, assured that the alleged endorsement and adoption of the speaker would not deter him from pursuing his dream to become the next governor of the state.

“The endorsement will not stop my aspiration, I’m still in the race, I’m consulting with stakeholders across the state.

“By education, work experience, and social contacts with people across the country, I am very qualified to lead our state.

“I have always indicated my interest to serve my state, and I’m well prepared for this service.

“I don’t think that, among those who have indicated interest, there is anyone who knows the state more than I do,” Mbam said.