A civil society organization, the Association for Equity, Integrity, Social Change, and Inclusive Development (AEISCID), has called for the possible impeachment of Ebonyi State Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru over what it describes as a pattern of failed projects, opaque contract awards, and lack of accountability to citizens.
The AEISCID President Worldwide Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu made the call while reacting to a viral video showing the Senate's Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, inspecting a two-span bridge connecting Odomoke and Ekelibe in the Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. In the video, Nwebonyi and an expatriate contractor drew attention to a visibly failed section of the bridge, which is being built by the State's Ministry of Infrastructure and Concession.
Commissioner's Response Dismissed
The state's Commissioner for Infrastructure and Concession, Engr. Abara, offered a defence that AEISCID found unconvincing. Abara suggested the defective section was a temporary measure put in place to receive materials for the final overlay. The group dismissed this explanation, saying the defects were visible enough to be apparent even to non-engineers.
This was contained in a statement made available to Legit.ng on Thursday, August 6, 2026. AEISCID also questioned why poor concrete quality work appears across multiple sites in the state and why the government has failed to respond to citizens' concerns or blacklist contractors who deliver substandard work.
Contract Award Allegations
Beyond the bridge controversy, the group raised broader concerns about how projects in Ebonyi State are being procured. It alleged that the majority of contracts running into hundreds of millions and billions of naira are awarded through single bidding to largely unknown and newly registered companies, many of which have no traceable addresses.
The group specifically referenced a published report alleging that a contract worth over N6.2 billion for the construction of model classroom blocks across the state was awarded to a company with links to the governor's wife. AEISCID noted that no denial or refutation of that report has been issued as of the time of its statement.
The group also pointed to the ongoing Vanco flyover tunnel project, which it said has been under construction for nearly three years with no completion in sight, as further evidence of poor project delivery under Nwifuru.
Call to Act on Fiscal Responsibility Law
AEISCID invoked the Ebonyi State Fiscal Responsibility Act No. 3 of 2008, arguing that it is a binding law and must be applied against any contractor found to have delivered substandard work. The group urged the state House of Assembly to activate the relevant provisions of the law and noted that an impeachment process remains a legitimate constitutional option if the governor has breached the law.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that the Ebonyi State Executive Council, led by Governor Nwifuru, approved two executive bills targeting housing costs and infrastructure theft. One bill proposes capping house agency fees at two per cent of total rental value to protect residents from arbitrary charges. Both bills have been sent to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for debate and possible passage into law.
