The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Odii, has pledged to prioritise healthcare, education and agriculture if elected governor in the 2027 governorship election.

Odii made the commitment while flagging off his campaign, where he outlined his development agenda for the state and promised to pursue what he described as an inclusive, issues-based campaign.

The PDP candidate said his administration, if elected, would focus on addressing challenges affecting residents and accelerating economic development across the state.

In the education sector, Odii pledged to provide free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school. He also promised free tertiary education for Ebonyi indigenes studying medicine, specialised sciences and critical technology-related courses.

He said greater investment in education and human capital development would help equip young people with the skills required to participate effectively in the modern economy.

On healthcare, Odii promised to expand access to affordable medical services across the state's 13 local government areas.

He said his administration would prioritise the improvement of healthcare delivery and reduce the financial burden of medical treatment on residents.

Odii also identified agriculture as a major pillar of his proposed economic transformation programme.

He promised to move farmers from subsistence agriculture to commercially oriented agribusiness through improved access to markets, processing facilities and other forms of support.

The PDP candidate proposed the establishment of agro-processing facilities and an Agro-Industrial Park for key crops, including rice, cassava and yam.

He also pledged to introduce measures aimed at protecting farmers from the effects of flooding, price fluctuations and other challenges affecting agricultural production.

According to him, developing agricultural value chains within Ebonyi would create jobs, increase farmers' income and strengthen the state's internally generated revenue.

Odii further promised to prioritise youth employment, entrepreneurship and investment while exploring the state's agricultural, mineral and other economic resources.

He said his administration would promote merit-based recruitment, transparency in public financial management and performance-driven governance.

The candidate also called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to maintain peace during the 2027 electoral process.

He said his campaign would focus on presenting policy alternatives to voters rather than engaging in personal attacks, intimidation or violence.

Odii urged Ebonyi residents to support his development agenda, saying his ambition was to provide what he described as a new direction for the state through inclusive governance and investment in human capital.

The 2027 Ebonyi State governorship election is scheduled for February 6, 2027.