The Chief Press Secretary ((CPS) to the Ebonyi state governor, Monday Uzor, has commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for restoring peace in Effium and creating the conditions for meaningful development to return to the troubled community.

Uzor spoke at an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Ohaukwu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, where he described the return of political activities to Effium as a strong indication that normalcy had been restored in the area.

According to him, Governor Nwifuru inherited the crisis upon assumption of office but immediately took decisive steps to address the situation and restore peace.

“One of the major achievements of His Excellency there is the restoration of peace,” Uzor said, adding that the ongoing demarcation exercise was among measures adopted by the administration to consolidate the peace process.

He said the ability of political parties to organise rallies in Effium, which was considered difficult in previous years, had demonstrated the progress made in restoring normal life to the community.

“Even last week, we went there for a rally, which would have been impossible in the last four years. Our rally took place in Effium, which is an indication that peace has returned fully,” he said.

Uzor, who said he hails from the area, appealed to the people to embrace and sustain the peace, stressing that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of conflict.

He also expressed satisfaction with the turnout and conduct of APC supporters at the Ohaukwu rally, saying the exercise provided an opportunity for the party to take the governor’s message and achievements directly to the grassroots.

The CPS said the Nwifuru administration had created an environment in which citizens could participate freely in political activities and choose to support the APC based on their assessment of the government’s performance.

He expressed confidence that the APC would win the forthcoming local government election and sustain its momentum into the 2027 general elections.

Uzor also dismissed allegations that opposition politicians were being prevented from contesting elections in Ebonyi, insisting that political ambition was legitimate and that anybody was free to test his or her popularity at the polls.

“Ambition is never a crime anywhere. If anybody wants to try, let that person try. At the end, we will now find out that the person may not have been popular enough to have won,” he said.

He maintained that the growing support for the APC in the state was not achieved through coercion but through the performance of the administration and its engagement with the people.