2027: Chippings seller can’t challenge me, Senator Nwaebonyi taunts Ojimba

Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Peter Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has declared that he has no political rival ahead of the 2027 senatorial election, dismissing the ambition of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate, Mr. Chikaodiri Ojimba.

Nwaebonyi described Ojimba as a businessman lacking the political experience required to challenge him, saying the Senate was not for “business moguls” but for intellectuals and professionals.

“Because you are selling chippings and government patronises you, you think you can contest with me? Not possible. I don’t have a rival,” the senator told journalists in Abakaliki.

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He hinged his confidence on what he called his outstanding record in infrastructure, education, and agricultural empowerment across the zone, which he said had set him apart from past lawmakers.

“Not because of my power, but because of my achievements. I have set a standard in terms of representation in Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone,” he said.

Nwaebonyi disclosed that he had facilitated the construction of more than 400 kilometres of federal roads linking Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Nasarawa and Abuja, and completed 10 kilometres of concrete roads within the constituency.

He added that over 500 students are currently benefiting from his scholarship programme, while more than 10,000 farmers have received support under his agricultural intervention schemes.

Taking a swipe at Ojimba’s reported ambition, the lawmaker argued that public office requires progressive political grooming and leadership experience.

“Even in journalism, there are steps to promotion. You start as a reporter, graduate to an editor, before becoming the managing director of a media organisation.

“How can somebody who has never been a ward councillor, never been a member of the House of Assembly, simply because he’s selling chippings and government is patronising him, say he wants to be a senator?” he queried.

The senator maintained that the upper chamber should be occupied by individuals who have distinguished themselves intellectually and professionally.

“Senate is not for business moguls. Senate is for intellectuals, those who have made names in different fields of life. I am a lawyer by profession. Before politics, I had already made my mark in the private sector,” he stated.

Nwaebonyi also dismissed suggestions that politics should be viewed as a means of wealth acquisition, insisting that public service requires sacrifice.

“Politics is not an avenue for making money. People who think politics is business should remain in their businesses because when you come into politics, you spend more than what you get,” he said.

The lawmaker expressed confidence in the political dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, asserting that Governor Francis Nwifuru and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continue to enjoy widespread support.

He commended the Tinubu administration for ongoing federal infrastructure projects in the South-East, particularly in Ebonyi State, describing them as evidence of the President’s commitment to the region.

Nwaebonyi consequently predicted that the APC would retain its dominance in future elections in the state.

“Ebonyi State is APC and APC is Ebonyi State. No other party will win any seat in the coming election because we have a leader in the person of Governor Francis Nwifuru,” he added.

Recall that Ojimba, at the weekend, emerged the Ebonyi North flag bearer of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), where he vowed to unseat a serving Senator, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, in the 2027 general election.