Francis Nwifuru

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Francis Nwifuru
Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.jpg
Nwifuru in 2020
6th Governor of Ebonyi State
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 May 2023

Francis Ogbonna Erishi Nwifuru (born 25 February 1975) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who is the current governor of Ebonyi State since 2023. [1] [2] He previously served as speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly from June 2015 to May 2023. [3] He hails from Oferekpe Agbaja in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State. [4] [5]

Contents

Nwifuru represented Izzi West constituency at the Ebonyi State legislature between 2011 and 2023. He was the Deputy Chief Whip of the 4th Ebonyi State House of Assembly (2011–2015). During that period, he served as chairman Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Lands, Survey, Urban Development and Environment. His journey into the State House of Assembly was under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), until 2020, when he moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Early life and education

Nwifuru was born into a polygamous family of Chief and Mrs Nwifuru Nwamkpu. He got enrolled into Oferekpe Agbaja Community Primary School in the year 1991. He continued his education at the Community Secondary School, Nwofe Agbaja in the year 1999. [6]

His educational activities weren't smooth-sailing. For a fact, he attended school only at intervals and joined his brothers in rearing of their father's numerous cattle. [6]

Upon concluding his post-primary education, Ogbonna was christened 'Francis' after baptism as a Catholic. He enrolled into Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, to study Building technology and Wood Work. [6]

Nwifuru received a master's degree in Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Salford University, Manchester, United Kingdom in June 2021. [7]

Career

In 2007 he ran for his state constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, but lost.

He was later appointed as an Ex-Officio State Executive Member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ebonyi State.

In March 2011, he took a second shot, won the election to represent Izzi West Constituency at Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

In that same tenure, he became the Deputy Chief Whip and chairman House Committee on Lands, Survey, Urban Development, and Environment.

He was re-elected in 2015 as 5th speaker of the Assembly. He was also re-elected for same positions in 2019; hence becoming the only member to have returned as a two-time Speaker in the history of Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

In 2020, he was elected as the National vice-chairman South East Conference of State Legislatures of Nigeria.

As the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress during the 2023 Ebonyi gubernatorial election, Nwifuru garnered a total of 199,131 votes cast across the 13 local governments in the state to win the election. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Controversy

In March 2016, there were rumours that Nwifuru was arrested by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He however denied the allegation.

Nwifuru explained he only honoured an invitation from the EFCC at its South-East zonal office in Enugu.

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References

  1. ↑ Nnachi, Edward (29 May 2023). "Nwifuru sworn in as Umahi's successor". The Punch . Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Nwifuru sworn in as Ebonyi's 4th executive governor". The Sun . 29 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "ShineYourEye". www.shineyoureye.org. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Elusoji, Solomon. "Nwifuru Wins Ebonyi APC Governorship Primary". Channels TV . Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "2023: Umahi endorses Ebonyi Speaker as successor". The Punch. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Nnachi, Clement (12 January 2024). "Ebonyi Guber: Profile of Hon Francis Nwifuru…APC Governorship Candidate". Daily Champion . Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "Francis Nwifuru: Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Career, Controversy and More". NewsWireNGR. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  8. ↑ Eze, James (20 March 2023). "It's Official: INEC declares APC's Nwifuru winner of Ebonyi governorship election". Premium Times . Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  9. ↑ Nnochiri, Ikechukwu (12 January 2024). "Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Nwifuru as Ebonyi State Governor". Vanguard . Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  10. ↑ Opanuga, Jimisayo (20 March 2023). "APC candidate Nwifuru wins Ebonyi governorship election". The Guardian . Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Tribunal affirms APC's Nwifuru as Ebonyi gov". The Punch. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  12. ↑ Atungwu, Matthew (12 January 2024). "Supreme Court upholds election of Francis Nwifuru as Ebonyi Governor". Daily Trust. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  13. ↑ "Supreme Court affirms election of Francis Nwifuru as Ebonyi governor". Peoples Gazette . 12 January 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  14. ↑ Onyedinefu, Godsgift (12 January 2024). "Supreme Court affirms APC's Nwifuru as Ebonyi Governor". Business Day . Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  15. ↑ Agozie, Ebere (12 January 2024). "Breaking: Supreme Court affirms election of Nwifuru as Ebonyi governor". P.M. News . Retrieved 6 September 2024.
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