Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has warned the newly sworn-in local government chairmen that they risk losing their positions if they fail to ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their respective council areas during the 2027 general elections.
Nwifuru issued the warning on Tuesday at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki during the swearing-in ceremony of the 13 newly elected council chairmen and their vice chairmen.
The event was attended by APC leaders, members of the National Assembly from the state and other party stakeholders.
The governor told the new council bosses that their responsibilities went beyond administering their respective local governments, insisting that they were also expected to work for the success of the APC in the 2027 elections.
He said any chairman who failed to deliver his local government to the ruling party would not be allowed to remain in office.
“Chairmen, as local government chairmen, if you like, go and sleep and think that another person will take over your house. You will not stop us from winning. When we win, you know we will win, and we will remove any council chairman that did not win his local government. It is as simple as that,” Nwifuru said.
The governor stressed that his position was not a secret and challenged the media to publish his warning prominently.
“It is not hidden. Let the front page of the newspaper tomorrow carry it: ‘We will remove a council chairman that did not win his local government,’” he declared.
Nwifuru subsequently instructed the chairmen to return to their respective councils and begin mobilisation for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. He expressed confidence that the party would secure total victory across the state.
“We cannot leave one position to any other political party. We will win 100 per cent in the general election. Go and tell our opposition that nobody is threatening them. We have now started campaigning. We are not threatening you; we will defeat you at the polls,” he said.
The governor’s remarks came after the APC recorded a clean sweep in the Ebonyi State local government elections conducted in August.
The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) declared the APC winner in all 13 local government areas and 171 wards contested in the election. The commission said the exercise was conducted peacefully across the state.
Nwifuru had also commended the conduct of the council poll after casting his vote at Edupfu Okemini Polling Unit 002 in Oferekpe Agbaja, Izzi Local Government Area.
During Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony, the governor congratulated the newly elected council chairmen and reminded them of the constitutional responsibilities attached to their offices.
He said they had taken an oath to serve the people and operate within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly the provisions relating to democratically elected local government councils.
Nwifuru also addressed the vice chairmen, urging them to work closely with their respective chairmen instead of creating rival political structures within their councils.
He described the position of a vice chairman as that of a “spare tyre”, stressing that the occupant must always be prepared to support the chairman and step in when necessary.
“Don’t allow anybody to advise you to work against your chairman or form a group or counter-group against him. Continue working with your chairman. You will reap the benefits of that, in Jesus’ name,” the governor said.
He cited his Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, who previously served as a vice chairman, as an example of someone who remained committed to her political superior and worked hard to advance through the system.
The governor further directed APC leaders at the ward level to submit 20 names each for consideration as executive assistants to the governor. He said women and young people should be given priority in the selection process.
Nwifuru also announced financial support for the newly elected council leaders, stating that Gem Brass Construction would give each council chairman N1 million and each vice chairman N300,000.
He used the occasion to acknowledge the APC leadership in Ebonyi State and the campaign committee led by Ambassador Franklin Nchita. He also praised the electoral commission and candidates who accepted the outcome of the local government election.
Nwifuru also urged politicians to be open about their political affiliations, saying he had no interest in hiding his position from opponents or supporters.
“As politicians, don’t ever try to hide your political position from anybody. Tell the person openly: ‘You are either with me or against me.’ That is what I do,” he added.
