The youths said they were not comfortable with the political disposition of the APC candidate, saying they needed a candidate that would not only protect their interests but also govern the people with the fear of God if elected.
In a communique signed by the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, Prince Maurice Mbam; Comrade Edward Nwenu, the immediate past President of the forum; and Hon. Michael Nwambam, among others, the youths endorsed the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Edward Nkwegu, as its sole candidate for the 2023 general election.
The communique read in part, “That we hereby adopt Dr Edward Edward, the Ebonyi of the Labour Party as our consensus candidate for the 2023 governorship election in our state.
“This is in line with equity, fairness and justice. We hereby call on all the sons and daughters of Izzi Nnodo Clan both home and abroad, to join hands to support the candidacy of Nkwegu.
“This will bring peace, unity and progress, not only in Izzi land, but to the entire Ebonyi State. The support to Nkwegu is as a result of credibility, charity of purpose and unity of Izzi land.
“This has come to a very important decision, following the meeting of the board of trustees of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, which resolved as follows:
“That we will not tolerate any form of political hooliganism, threats to life and property. We condemn any form of victimisation, undue violence, undue influence, and vote buying. We request the state government to give all the political parties a level-playing ground, to exercise their franchise.
“That our Ohaukwu brothers should remember that we supported Dr Sam Egwu during his governorship and senatorial ambition, which led to his victory for the two consecutive terms respectively.
“We remind our brothers from the Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone, to give us their support as we supported their brother – Chief Martins Elechi – so as to produce the next governor of this state come 2023 general election.
“We equally remind our brothers from the Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone to remember that Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum first declared to shift power to go to the southern zone of the state at the Teachers’ Training College, Igneagu in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, and this later led to the emergence of Governor David Umahi in 2015 till date.
“That we assure all and sundry, that we have resolved and will ensure Izzi clan extraction to have a consensus candidate in the person of Nkwegu, before the voting day.”
