The Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders has endorsed Lebechi Mbam of the All Progressives Congress as its preferred candidate for the Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 National Assembly elections.

The group announced its position in a statement issued on Tuesday by its President-General, Goodluck Ibem, following what it described as an assessment of all aspirants in the constituency.

It said Mbam was selected based on his experience, integrity, and public service record, adding that his leadership profile aligns with the expectations of the constituency.

According to the coalition, Mbam’s background in public administration and infrastructure development positions him as a strong candidate capable of representing the area at the national level.

The group also called on stakeholders, including Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, to support his candidacy ahead of the elections.

It further described him as a youthful figure capable of mobilising support and driving development initiatives for the constituency.

The endorsement comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections in Ebonyi State, where the current lawmaker, Emmanuel Uguru, is facing criticism from some constituents over performance concerns.

Some residents have raised issues relating to representation and constituency engagement, although the lawmaker has not publicly responded to the latest claims.

The coalition said its decision was guided by the need to support candidates it considers credible and capable of improving legislative representation for the area.