The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has criticised the Minister of Works, David Umahi, over his recent comments on the 2027 elections, accusing him of promoting division among Ebonyi people and their Igbo counterparts.
The group made its position known in a press statement dated October 12, 2026, signed by its Worldwide President, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu. It called on Umahi to withdraw his remarks and apologise to former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, Ebonyi residents and the wider Igbo community.
The controversy followed Umahi’s comments in a viral video, in which he reportedly criticised those questioning his opposition to Obi’s presidential ambition and argued that Ebonyi people should not be treated as second-class citizens in Igboland.
“You are calling out people like us because we said we will not vote for him and we tell our people not to vote for him, and you are insulting us,” Umahi was quoted as saying.
The minister also questioned Obi’s relationship with Ebonyi people, alleging that the former Anambra governor did not appoint any indigene of the state to his administration while in office.
Umahi further argued that political offices should follow zoning arrangements, maintaining that it was not yet the turn of the Southeast to produce Nigeria’s president or Ebonyi South Senatorial District to produce the next governor of Ebonyi State.
“Just like it’s not the turn of the South East and Peter Obi to be president of Nigeria, it’s not the turn of Ebonyi South to be governor of Ebonyi State,” he reportedly said.
He also indicated that he would engage the PDP governorship candidate on the zoning issue, saying, “So, I will go and talk to Anyi Chuks to step down from his governorship campaign. It’s turn by turn.”
Reacting, AEISCID condemned the remarks, describing them as divisive and unbecoming of a public officeholder. The association said political disagreements should not be used to create hostility between Ebonyi people and other Igbo communities.
The group also accused Umahi of attacking Obi and other politicians for exercising their constitutional rights to seek elective offices, arguing that political competition should be guided by democratic principles rather than personal interests.
AEISCID further questioned Umahi’s electoral performance in the 2023 elections, alleging that he failed to deliver his polling unit and ward to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the presidential election.
“This group, like the rest of Ndigbo and Nigerians have since been troubled by the senseless and relentless attacks on Peter Obi and other Igbo and Ebonyi politicians by Minister Umahi for merely fulfilling their constitutional rights to seek for elective offices like Umahi had done inpast elections.
“If these hateful and deeply hurtful comments are actually to give President Tinubu and the APC in Nigeria and Ebonyi an impression that the Party is acceptable and has any chance of winning the 2027 general elections, then Umahi must be a dreamer and herefore should be woken up from his dream.
“Needless to even remind the world that the same boastful Umahi as a sitting Governor failed woefully to deliver neither his Onuofokwuru Polling Unit nor his Umunaga-Uburu Ward to the APC in the 2023 Presidential election.
” He was also roundly defeated in his Senatorial election even in his Uburu village, though not to the consternation of Ebonyians who dutifully wanted to pay him back in his Emperor-ic coin after he made himself a near maximum dictator and ran Ebonyi like a private enterprise as governor between 2015-2023.”
The statement also called on residents to make their own decisions at the polls, insisting that voters, rather than political stakeholders, should determine the outcome of the election.
“We at AEISCID are even further disturbed like the rest of reasonable Ebonyians how a man who profited immensely from a keenly contested 2015 Governorship election, refusing to drop his ambition despite the selection of the then Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu from the same Ebonyi South zone where he hails from by his boss and predecessor, Chief Martin Elechi would suddenly awaken a false zoning debate just to perpetuate his puppet, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru in power beyond 2027 despite the fact that the Governor has failed woefully to perform in every aspect of governance.
“For Umahi, our clear understanding of his outlandish position to persuade the PDP candidate in Ebonyi 2027 Governorship election, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii to step down is simply so he can continue to exert his influence on the State’s purse while using his stooge, Nwifuru as an extension of his reign.”
AEISCID expressed concern over what it described as a lack of significant development projects under the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru, although the statement did not provide specific project data to support the claim.
The association gave Umahi 72 hours to retract his remarks and apologise to Obi, Odii, Ebonyi people and the wider Igbo community, threatening legal action if he failed to comply.
It also called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to intervene, urging government officials to promote peace, unity and mutual respect despite political differences.
“Finally, we give Umahi 72 hours only to recant his divisive statements and apologize to Obi, Odii, Ebonyians and the rest of Ndigbo or face legal consequences while also urging the Tinubu led administration to reign in their dog. His role as a member of FEC should be to preach peace, unity and togetherness of every Nigerian regardless of political differences and not to incite hate and divisive commentaries especially at this fragile campaign and election season.”