Francis Nwifuru | |
|---|---|
 Nwifuru in 2020 | |
| 6thGovernor of Ebonyi State | |
| Assumed office 29 May 2023 | |
| Deputy | Patricia Obila |
| Preceded by | Dave Umahi |
| Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly | |
| In office 9 June 2015 – 29 May 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-02-25)25 February 1975 (age 50) Oferekpe Agbaja,Izzi,Ebonyi State, Nigeria |
| Occupation |
|
Francis Ogbonna Erishi Nwifuru (born 25 February 1975) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who is the currentgovernor of Ebonyi State since 2023.[1][2] He previously served as speaker of theEbonyi 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]
Nwifuru represented Izzi West constituency at theEbonyi State legislature between 2011 and 2023. He was the Deputy Chief Whip of the 4thEbonyi StateHouse 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 underPeoples Democratic Party (PDP), until 2020, when he moved to theAll Progressives Congress (APC).
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' afterbaptism as a Catholic. He enrolled intoEbonyi State University, Abakaliki, to studyBuilding technology andWood Work.[6]
Nwifuru received amaster's degree in Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Management fromSalford University, Manchester, United Kingdom in June 2021.[7]
In 2007 he ran for his stateconstituency in theEbonyi State House of Assembly, but lost.
He was later appointed as anEx-Officio State Executive Member of thePeoples 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 theDeputy 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 StateLegislatures ofNigeria.
As theflagbearer of theAll Progressives Congress during the 2023 Ebonyi gubernatorial election, Nwifuru garnered a total of 199,131 votes cast across the 13local governments in the state to win the election.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
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In March 2016, there were rumours that Nwifuru was arrested by theEconomic 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 inEnugu.