By Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh PhD
The colour of politics in Ebonyi State is stained by ambition. It is a brand of politics that defies logic, mocks tradition, and dismisses intellectualism. It is no longer a contest of ideas but a battle of brute will. And like Imo State before it, the jungle drums are growing louder.
Back in 2011, I sat under a mango tree in Afikpo with Elder James Oko, a retired teacher who once taught political science at Abia State University. He spoke with reverence about zoning, equity, and the beauty of rotational leadership. “It is how we keep the peace,” he said, sipping palm wine. “It is how we ensure no one feels left behind.”
Fast forward to 2025, and Elder Oko no longer talks politics. “They have turned it into a war zone,” he muttered last Christmas. “You speak sense, they call you enemy. You ask for fairness, they say you are anti-government.” The intellectual class has been pushed to the margins. Their voices drowned out by the roar of ambition and the clatter of gun barrels.
Zoning used to be sacred until 2015 when serious attempts were made to dismantle it. That it was ‘respected’ in 2023 was only because it served the ambitions of those in power. But a dangerous seed had already been planted. And now, as 2027 approaches, jungle rules apply. Whoever can take, will take. Look at Imo. Zoning was sacrificed on the altar of Orlu dominance. Now, the people of Okigwe and Owerri plead for mercy, asking Orlu to allow others to breathe. Ebonyi is not far from this destination.
Many from Ebonyi Central, who for years were accused of opposing zoning, now appear poised to benefit from it. Their tone has shifted. Their language now echoes the politics of principle. As 2031 approaches, they wait eagerly, hoping that the same zoning arrangement they once resisted will finally swing in their favor. They now find themselves in a dangerous crown prince situation, where the struggle for the throne has intensified.
This issue of zoning was also dealt a heavy blow long before now, the gravest being during the Elechi era. When a prominent elder from Ebonyi North mounted a serious challenge to succeed Governor Martin Elechi, it rattled the foundations of zoning in the state. Many saw it as a betrayal of the unwritten code. Yet today, some prefer that such moments be forgotten, swept under the carpet as if they never happened. But history has a way of resurfacing, especially when the same principles are now being invoked for political gain.
History shows that it is not only those from Ebonyi Central or Ebonyi North have worked against zoning. Ebonyi South has also done so in the past. In fact, if Engineer Dave Umahi had listened to the prevailing sentiments from his zone, many wanted a southerner to succeed his government. Some even tried to redraw Ebonyi into two zones: Afikpo and Abakaliki blocks. So whatever happens going forward, we are witnessing the germination of seeds planted long ago by our elders.
Even so, Ebonyi North must wake up from its dream of entitlement. It is no longer about who is next, it is about who is ruthless enough.
“They do not want thinkers,” a frustrated journalist told me. “They want cheerleaders and enforcers.” The ngboro mentality has taken over; raw, aggressive, and allergic to order. Moderates are mocked. Intellectuals are silenced. And the jungle thrives.
So when people ask, “Who will win in 2027?” I shrug. How do you predict outcomes in a jungle? How do you forecast when the rules change with every sunrise?
It is like asking if Tinubu will seek another term after 2027. The question itself is terrifying. Not because it is impossible, but because it is plausible in a system where ambition knows no bounds and order is a forgotten relic.
This is not a call to despair. It is a call to awareness. The jungle may be loud, but even in the wild, there are paths carved by those who dare to think.
And that is the real tragedy. We have stopped thinking. We have outsourced our judgment to noise, fear, and tribal loyalty. But if we still believe in a society where rules apply, then we must return to thinking – clear, courageous, and principled thinking. Because only then can we reclaim the politics of moderation and restore the dignity of leadership.
This is not just Ebonyi’s dilemma. It mirrors Nigeria’s broader political reality. The erosion of zoning, the sidelining of intellectual voices, and the triumph of brute ambition are not isolated to one state. Across the country, the rules that once guided political conduct are being dismantled. Many observers argue that under Tinubu’s government, the last supporting pillars of political order are being quietly removed, replaced by a system where loyalty trumps logic and power overrides principle.
