12/10/2026
EBONYI INDIGENES THRĆATEN TO SUE UMAHI OVER ZONING, ANTI-OBI REMARKS
The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has threatened legal action against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, over his reported comments on political zoning and Peter Obiās 2027 presidential ambition.
The associationās president, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the group had given Umahi 72 hours to withdraw his comments and apologise to Peter Obi, Ebonyi indigenes and the wider Igbo community.
The development followed a viral video in which Umahi reportedly discussed opposition to Obiās presidential ambition and the zoning of political offices in Ebonyi State.
According to the association, Umahi questioned whether Obi, during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, had appointed any Ebonyi indigene into his administration.
On political zoning, Umahi was also quoted as saying that it was not the South-Eastās turn to produce Nigeriaās president or Ebonyi Southās turn to produce the state governor.
The minister was further reported to have said he intended to speak with Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the PDP governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, to persuade him to step down in line with the stateās zoning arrangement.
AEISCID criticised the reported remarks, arguing that zoning should not be used to discourage individuals from pursuing elective offices.
The group recalled that Umahi himself pursued his governorship ambition in 2015 despite the reported preference of the then governor, Martin Elechi, for Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, who is from Ebonyi South.
The association also urged Odii to continue his campaign and present his policies to the electorate, insisting that voters should decide who governs the state in 2027.
AEISCID called on President Bola Tinubu to caution members of his cabinet against making statements that could heighten political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The association main