David Nweze Umahi, born January 1, 1964, is a Nigerian politician who is serving as the current Governor of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Born January 1, 1964, David is the son of Elder Joseph Umahi Nwanze and Margaret Umahi of Umunaga. David received his secondary education from Ishiagu High School and the Government Secondary School of Afikpo before enrolling in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 1982. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
In 1990, Umahi co-founded Norman Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited, serving as its general manager until 1993. Umahi entered public service in 2007 as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party. From 2009 to 2011, he served as state chairman of the party. During that term, he served a year on the governing board of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba as its chairman.
In 2011, Umahi became Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State on a ticket with Martin Elechi. In 2014, Umahi showed interest in running for Governor but Governor Elechi supported Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health, as his successor. Umahi defeated Chukwu in the primaries and was elected Governor on 12 April 2015 in an election that was challenged by the Labour Party, All Progressives Congress and All Progressives Grand Alliance on the basis of “widespread irregularities, killings, and wanton destruction of property”. In October 2015, the legitimacy of the election was upheld by the Governorship Election Tribunal.
The governor’s close associates say that he does not refer to himself as a politician but as a child of God on a specific mission – the quick development of Ebonyi state.
Many observers are of the view that the Umahi administration has done well so far. In the area of electrification, the state was in worrisome level of darkness but many areas have now been illuminated, not only within the state capital but in all the local government areas of the state. The administration also identified the cause of road failure in the state and that is why it started using concrete base on the roads. The state is said to have a minimum of 15km of road construction going on in all the local government areas.
