By John Ademola | PressPoint News


ABAKALIKI — Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has warned local government chairmen in the state that they risk losing their positions if they fail to deliver their respective council areas for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

Nwifuru issued the warning while speaking at the inauguration of newly elected local government chairmen in Abakaliki, where he urged the council bosses to work towards securing victory for the APC across all levels in the forthcoming elections.


The governor, in remarks contained in a video that has since circulated widely online, told the chairmen that their political performance would be closely watched.


“As a local government chairman, if you like, go and sleep so that another person will take over your house. You will not stop us from winning. We will win. You know we will win. But when we win, we will remove you. It is as simple as that,” Nwifuru said.


He further stated that the warning should not be regarded as a secret, saying he was prepared for newspapers to publish his position publicly.

Nwifuru reportedly directed the council chairmen to ensure that the APC wins their respective local government areas, stressing that the party was targeting victory in all available positions during the 2027 elections.


The governor also urged the chairmen to confront efforts by opposition politicians to weaken the APC's influence in their councils.

“If you allow anybody to come to your local government and mess up, deal with that person mercilessly,” he said.


The comments have generated attention amid increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly over the relationship between elected local government officials and party politics.

Nwifuru also dismissed claims that his administration was threatening opposition figures, saying the state had not yet entered the full campaign period and suggesting that political activities would become more intense as the elections approach.


The governor's remarks were followed by a similarly strong statement from the newly inaugurated Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Paul Ituma, who warned opposition politicians against political activities in the council area that were not aligned with the APC.


Ituma declared that individuals opposed to the governor would be treated as political enemies, further reflecting the increasingly confrontational tone surrounding political mobilisation in the state.

The development comes as political parties and their supporters begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with Ebonyi expected to witness heightened political mobilisation in the months leading to the polls.


For the local government chairmen, Nwifuru's directive places renewed emphasis on their ability to mobilise support for the APC within their respective councils, while also raising questions about the relationship between elected local government administration and partisan political expectations.



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