Senator Stands Across River to Seek Votes in Ebonyi, Video Goes Viral
By Staff Reporter
August 28, 2026
A video showing Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, addressing residents from across a river during a political campaign in Ebonyi State has sparked reactions online.
The video, which was shared on X by a user identified as @torty_mercy, shows a large crowd gathered on one side of a river while the senator appears to speak to them from the opposite bank.
The post claimed that Nwebonyi had gone to campaign in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State but encountered a lack of a bridge connecting him to the community.
“So, he stood on the other side of the river to solicit for votes,” the post stated.
The footage has since attracted significant attention on social media, with users reacting to the unusual scene and questioning the state of infrastructure in the area.
As of Friday evening, the post had reportedly garnered more than 262,000 views, alongside thousands of reposts, likes and comments.
The development comes shortly after Nwebonyi participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign activities in Izzi Local Government Area ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Reports from the August 20 APC mega rally in Iboko, the headquarters of Izzi LGA, confirmed Nwebonyi’s participation and his appeal to residents to support the party.
Nwebonyi has also previously highlighted infrastructure projects in Ebonyi North, including a 12-kilometre road project linking six rural communities. Reports on the project said bridges and culverts were being constructed as part of the development.
The viral video, however, has shifted attention to the accessibility challenges faced by residents in some rural communities, with many Nigerians using the footage to debate the state of rural infrastructure and political campaigning in the country.
It remains unclear from the viral footage alone exactly where the river crossing was located or whether the absence of a bridge was the specific reason the senator addressed residents from across the river.
The video continues to generate debate online, with reactions ranging from amusement to concerns over infrastructure and access to rural communities.
