Former Ebonyi PDP Chairman Nwazunku Passes Away

 Steve Nwazunku, former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, died on June 25 at 62 after a prolonged illness linked to diabetes and hypertension. 

Nwazunku, who led the PDP from 2015 to 2020, was instrumental in securing the party’s dominance in Ebonyi, winning 70% of local council seats in 2019 before defecting to the APC in 2021 alongside Governor David Umahi.

His death, confirmed by family sources, occurred at a private hospital in Abakaliki, leaving behind a legacy of grassroots mobilization. Nwazunku’s tenure saw Ebonyi’s PDP membership grow to 500,000, though his defection sparked criticism from loyalists, costing the PDP 20% of its base. He later returned to the PDP in 2023, advocating for southern presidency zoning ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PDP mourned Nwazunku as a “political titan,” with plans for a state funeral in July 2025. His death weakens the PDP’s rebuilding efforts in Ebonyi, where APC controls 80% of votes. Governor Francis Nwifuru allocated N50 million for memorial projects, including a library in Nwazunku’s hometown, to honor his contributions to Ebonyi’s $3 billion economy.