Information reaching Ebonyi people has it that the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi has been nominated by the serving Governor of the state, Rt Hon. Francis Nwifuru as Minister – designate from Ebonyi State. This news is coming as all the states of the Federation of Nigeria have nominated their Ministers-designate.
Elechi was a Commissioner in the old Anambra State Government and was also nominated into different committees in both Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States, respectively. In 2007, Elechi was nominated by the PDP to fly its flag as governorship candidate alongside Professor Chigozie Ogbu as Deputy. In 2011, he was also nominated for the second time with Chief David Umahi as running mate.
In 2017, Chief Elechi joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in protest of the political witch hunt by the then Governor, David Umahi who was revenging the attempt of his former boss to deny him governorship ticket of the PDP in 2015. The revenge led to the seizure and confiscation of the properties owned by the former Governor as well as the ones of his children. Later in 2018, one of his sons who was a lecturer at the Ebonyi State University, Dr Onyekachi Elechi developed an ailment said to have come due to the confiscation of his bank accounts, landed properties in Ebonyi State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He later gave up to ghost. His death was alluded to the revenge of Umahi against his father and predecessor. Elechi is Alike community, Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi State.
The nomination of former Governor Martin Elechi in some quarters is said to have come to bear as a result of his age and position he has held in the state. The calculation leading to his nomination is alleged to have been borne out of the fears of the serving Governor about nominating a Minister who might later start fighting him and use the Federal Might to scuttle his reelection if he survives the post-election litigation in tribunal against him.
It’s not known the portfolio he would be given in the cabinet of the Tinubu-led Federal Executive Council. 