The African Democratic Congress (ADC) House of Representatives candidate for Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, Ambassador Ephraim Iyke Nwonu, has announced his withdrawal from the 2027 race and declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nwonu made the announcement on Saturday in Abuja.
He previously supported Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, but said he had decided to abandon his own legislative ambition and work in support of Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru. His name was still listed on the INEC portal as the ADC candidate at the time of his announcement.
Nwonu explains his decision
The former ADC candidate said his decision was based on his support for the President and the Ebonyi State governor.
He said he was prepared to give up his ambition of representing Ezza South/Ikwo in the House of Representatives because of that commitment.
“I am the official ADC candidate for the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency on the INEC portal, but I have decided to jettison and sacrifice that ambition because of my unalloyed support for Mr President and my state governor,” Nwonu said.
Nwonu also said he would work with APC stakeholders in Ebonyi State and within his constituency to mobilise support for Tinubu and the governor.
He recalls connection with Tinubu
The politician said his relationship with Tinubu goes back to 1992.
According to Nwonu, Tinubu was a senator at the time, while his late political mentor, Senator Polycarp Nwite, was also a member of the Senate.
Nwonu said Nwite later appointed him secretary of the now-defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) in Ebonyi State.
“Senator Nwite appointed me as the secretary of the defunct DPN in Ebonyi State, so I have every reason to be where Tinubu is,” he said.
Move comes ahead of 2027 election
Nwonu’s announcement comes as political parties and their candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His decision also means that his stated political support has shifted from the ADC platform to the APC camp, although the reports indicate that his name remained on the INEC portal as the ADC candidate when he made the announcement.
The development adds another political movement to the growing activity surrounding the 2027 elections.
