The management of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, Ebonyi State, has directed all staff members of the institution to attend a solidarity rally at the hometown of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
The rally, scheduled for August 17, was described by the university as mandatory, with authorities warning that attendance would be taken at Umahi’s residence in Uburu.
The development has raised concerns over the alleged use of university staff for political mobilisation, particularly as Umahi’s son, Osborne Umahi, is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area in the August 22 election.
The directive is contained in an “Important Notice on Solidarity Rally by DUFUHS Staff for his Excellency Senator Engineer David N.Umahi”, issued by Cardinal A. Umahi, Director, SERVICOM, DUFUHS, Uburu.
The notice said the directive was issued by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Distinguished Professor Jesse C. Uneke.
“I’ve been directed by the Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Jesse C. Uneke, to inform all staff of DUFUHS to attend a solidarity rally in honour of our founder, Engr Sen David Nweze Umahi, Hon Minister for Works for the local government election,” the notice stated.
It added that participation is compulsory and that staff attendance will be monitored.
“The rally is mandatory for all staff as attendance would be taken at the Minister’s home town in Uburu,” the notice added.
The university also directed staff living in Uburu to report to the school by 8 a.m. to collect T-shirts before proceeding to the minister’s residence.
“Those living in Uburu are to be in the University by 8 a.m. to collect their T-Shirts before moving to Minister’s house,” the notice stated.
For staff members based in Abakaliki, the university said it has arranged five buses, including a coaster bus, to transport them to Uburu and return them after the rally.
“The University has made arrangements for five buses including the coaster bus to be at the Ecumenical Center to convey staff living in Abakaliki to Uburu and also bring them back after the rally,” it stated.
“The buses will leave Ecumenical Center Abakaliki by 9 a.m. to Uburu. Our staff living in Abakaliki are advised to be there by 8 a.m. for onward movement to Uburu.”
Sources familiar with the mobilisation told SaharaReporters that the rally is linked to the forthcoming local government election, alleging that DUFUHS staff members are being mobilised to Umahi’s hometown because they are eligible voters in the election.
“Most staff of DUFUHS are eligible voters. They are going to Umahi’s home to accredit and be eligible for the election,” one of the sources said.
The source further alleged that an earlier attempt to register staff members within the university premises recorded poor turnout.
“With this ‘solidarity’ trick, there will be more turn out,” the source alleged.
Another source said the mobilisation is intended to generate a high voter turnout for Umahi’s son and demonstrate the minister’s political influence in the area.
“It was not as if Umahi can lose, no. What he wants to achieve is near 100 per cent vote to prove his popularity,” the source said.
Osborne Nweze Umahi emerged as the APC candidate for the Ohaozara chairmanship election in January 2026 after securing 55 votes from accredited delegates across the local government’s 11 wards.
The primary election was held at Obiozara Primary School, Uburu.
Declaring the result, the Deputy Chairman of the APC in Ebonyi State and Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Alphonsus Nwali, described the exercise as peaceful and transparent and conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and guidelines.
The DUFUHS directive comes days before the Ebonyi State local government elections, scheduled for August 22 across the state’s 13 local government areas and 171 wards.
Credit: SaharaReporters
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