The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi governorship election, **Ifeanyi Odii**, has pledged to serve only one term if elected, saying he has no intention of seeking re-election after four years in office.
Odii made the declaration during a media parley in Lagos on Saturday, explaining that his development agenda for Ebonyi was designed to be completed within a single tenure.
"I've told God and myself that I want to be the first governor who will not seek re-election after four years. What it means is that I have already packaged what I want to do in Ebonyi within four years," he said.
The PDP candidate also said Nigerian politics is gradually shifting from party loyalty to individual credibility and competence, arguing that voters are becoming more interested in what candidates have accomplished rather than the political platforms they represent.
According to him, the growing support for his ambition has triggered defections from other political parties and unsettled the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State.
"Today, in Nigerian politics, it is becoming about personality, no longer party. As far as I'm concerned, we are getting a lot of traction, and the government in power is already jittery," Odii said.
"We have a lot of people resigning from the opposition party and joining us. So many structures are collapsing. We're not talking about party politics anymore. Nigeria will develop based on who you are, what you have done and what you are bringing on board."
On the issue of zoning, Odii dismissed claims that the 2027 governorship should be determined by an existing power-sharing arrangement, insisting there has never been a documented zoning agreement in Ebonyi.
He argued that competence, rather than regional considerations, should determine who becomes the state's next governor.
"There will not be a zoning issue anymore because our people are very civilised today. We know clannish politics is one of the things that has actually kept us from developing," he said.
Odii further claimed that poverty remains widespread across the state, alleging that economic hardship has made residents vulnerable to political mobilisation through cash inducements.
"In every 10 Ebonyians, from my little data, you have seven below the poverty line," he said.
Referring to a recent APC rally in Abakaliki, he alleged that the large turnout reflected the prevailing economic situation.
"If you go to Ebonyi today and want to mobilise 100,000 people by paying them N2,000 each, you'll see the crowd. That tells you there is poverty," he said.
The PDP governorship candidate said his campaign is focused on encouraging voters, particularly women and grassroots communities, to make informed electoral choices based on issues such as education, healthcare, job creation and good governance.
He also attributed low voter turnout during elections to voter apathy, warning that politicians often exploit poor participation to influence electoral outcomes.
"We are telling them to come out and vote for good governance, vote for the future of their children, vote for education, vote for healthcare and vote for job creation," Odii said.
