Ebonyi Students Disown Purported Endorsement of Anyichuks, Pass Vote of Confidence in Nwifuru Ahead of 2027. Students’ Leaders Reaffirm Support for Nwifuru’s Second Term, Cite Scholarships, Educational Reforms and Infrastructure Development

ABAKALIKI, Ebonyi State — The collective leadership of Students’ Union Governments (SUGs) across tertiary institutions in Ebonyi State, alongside the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ebonyi State Axis, has rejected and disowned any purported endorsement of Mr. Chukwuma Ifeanyi Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks, as the preferred governorship candidate of Ebonyi students ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The student leaders, in a communiqué issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, said no such endorsement should be presented as the collective position of Ebonyi students without the authorisation of duly recognised student representatives.

The communiqué also reaffirmed the students’ commitment to political equity, fairness and inclusion among Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South senatorial zones, while expressing support for the continuation of the educational initiatives introduced by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.

The position followed reports alleging that certain individuals were planning to mobilise students across the state to endorse Odii ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

According to the student leaders, the political preference of an individual or group must not automatically be portrayed as the collective decision of the entire student community.

They maintained that any decision communicated in the name of Ebonyi students must emerge from a legitimate process involving recognised representatives and a duly established mandate.

Students Insist on Equity in Governorship Succession

Beyond rejecting the purported endorsement, the student leaders highlighted the importance of maintaining equity and political inclusion in the distribution of governorship leadership among the three senatorial zones of Ebonyi State.

They noted that the longstanding political understanding surrounding zoning and rotation remains an important consideration in sustaining peace, stability and mutual trust among the constituent zones.

Although acknowledging that zoning and rotation are political arrangements rather than express constitutional requirements, the students argued that such understandings deserve responsible consideration in the state's political discourse ahead of 2027.

They further emphasised that political stakeholders must avoid actions capable of deepening perceptions of exclusion or undermining confidence in the state's political arrangements.

According to the communiqué, the pursuit of political ambition should not overshadow the collective responsibility of political actors to preserve harmony among Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South.

Nwifuru's Educational Reforms Take Centre Stage

A significant part of the communiqué focused on the educational policies and interventions introduced by the administration of Governor Nwifuru, which the student leaders described as important to the academic advancement and welfare of Ebonyi students.

The leaders highlighted postgraduate scholarship programmes, bursary assistance, increased institutional funding, support for academic excellence, graduate employment opportunities and investments in tertiary education infrastructure as areas of particular interest to students.

They stated that the administration had sponsored 300 Ebonyi graduates for full Master's and PhD scholarship programmes in universities in the United Kingdom, while more than 700 beneficiaries had reportedly been enrolled for postgraduate studies in Nigerian universities.

The student representatives described the initiatives as significant investments in human-capital development, noting that access to advanced education could expand professional opportunities and prepare Ebonyi indigenes for leadership and specialised service.

They also acknowledged bursary assistance for eligible students, support for Ebonyi indigenes attending the Nigerian Law School, scholarships for outstanding law graduates of Ebonyi State University and automatic postgraduate scholarship opportunities.

EBSU Gets Increased Funding, Tuition Reduction

The communiqué further highlighted financial interventions in Ebonyi State University (EBSU) and other state-owned tertiary institutions.

According to the student leaders, the state government released ₦700 million in outstanding subvention to EBSU and increased the university's monthly subvention from ₦150 million to ₦280 million.

They also cited the reported regular payment of salaries to university workers, the approval of a 20 per cent salary increase for academic staff and a 10 per cent increase for non-academic staff.

Other measures highlighted included a 10 per cent reduction in tuition fees and approval for students to pay their tuition fees in instalments.

The student representatives maintained that adequate institutional funding, staff welfare and affordable tuition are essential to maintaining academic standards, improving teaching and learning, and enhancing the overall welfare of students.

They also commended the reported policy of automatic employment for Ebonyi graduates who attain First Class honours, describing it as an incentive for academic excellence and an intervention aimed at addressing graduate employment challenges.

Students Highlight New Universities, Campus Infrastructure

The student leaders also drew attention to ongoing and approved educational infrastructure projects across the state, arguing that continuity in governance would be important to sustaining the progress already recorded.

Among the projects mentioned were the proposed upgrade of Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, to a University of Education; the ongoing process towards establishing the Federal University of Sports at Nkalagu; and the development of ICT University at Oferekpe and Aeronautic University in Ebonyi State.

At EBSU, the communiqué referenced the construction of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences Building and the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education Building, alongside the renovation of the Postgraduate School Building.

Other interventions cited included the connection of EBSU to the national power grid, the installation of solar-powered streetlights, the donation of a 500KVA transformer to the Ishieke Campus, and the construction of internal roads and installation of streetlights at EBSU and Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo.

The students also acknowledged the provision of modern convenience facilities across tertiary institutions, the construction of buildings at ICT University and Aeronautic University, and the near completion of perimeter fencing at the two institutions.

The communiqué described these projects as part of the broader investment in educational infrastructure that the student leaders want sustained beyond the present political cycle.

Student Leaders Pass Vote of Confidence in Nwifuru

Following their deliberations, the student leaders passed a vote of confidence in Governor Nwifuru, citing the educational interventions and institutional developments highlighted in their communiqué.

They expressed concern about the sustainability of the programmes beyond the current political dispensation, arguing that their continuation and expansion remain matters of legitimate interest to students across the state.

The leaders consequently expressed support for the consolidation of the governor's educational policies and programmes, stating that continuity would provide an opportunity to strengthen existing interventions and extend their benefits to more students.

The communiqué also reaffirmed what the signatories described as the previously adopted position of duly constituted student representatives endorsing Nwifuru as their preferred candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State governorship election.

The student leaders further declared their intention to mobilise support for the governor's re-election bid, including through voting and defending their political choice.

NANS, SUG Presidents and Other Student Leaders Sign Communiqué

The communiqué was electronically signed by Comr. Ibeabuchi Moses Onyia, President of the NANS Senate; Comr. Okoro Offor Joshua, Chairman of the Ebonyi NANS Stakeholders' Forum; and Dr. Olisa Alfred Nwuruku, Deputy Majority Leader of the Nigerian Youth Parliament.

Other signatories included Comr. Ogbonna Collins, President of NAESS; Comr. Chika Abraham Nwuhuo, SUG President of EBSU; and Comr. Eze Oko Dan, SUG President of AE-FUNAI.

Also listed were the SUG presidents of AIFPU, FCAI, EBSCOHSTECH, DUFUHS, College of Nursing Sciences, Uburu, EBSCOEI, ICT University, Oferekpe, BIMOCOHT, Royal College of Nursing, Izihia, and the Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu.

Additional signatories were Onwe Chukwunonso Onyibe, Chairman of Ebonyi JJC, and Comr. Lawrence Ogba, Zonal Secretary of NANS.

The student leaders concluded by reaffirming their commitment to educational advancement, political equity, institutional stability and peaceful coexistence, while maintaining that the collective voice of Ebonyi students must be communicated through duly recognised representatives.

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