The newly sworn-in Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Eze Paul Ituma, has warned opposition political parties and their supporters against engaging in political activities in the council area ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ituma, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, made the remarks while speaking on political activities in Ohaukwu, warning that anyone who acted against his political interests could be declared persona non grata in the area.
In a viral video, the council chairman said politics remained his primary occupation and warned those he considered political opponents to stay away from Ohaukwu.
“Anyone who dares to do so will be declared persona non grata. This is the time for politics. I don’t have a shop at the International Market; politics is my business. Anyone who wants to put sand in my garri should not come close to Ohaukwu,” Ituma said.
His comments came shortly after Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, publicly warned newly inaugurated local government chairmen that any of them who failed to deliver their councils to the APC in the 2027 elections would be removed from office.
Nwifuru issued the warning in Abakaliki during the inauguration of the newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen of the 13 local government areas of the state.
The governor said the council chairmen were expected to work politically to ensure victory for the ruling party in their respective local government areas.
“Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office and replaced with a councillor. I want this information to be on the headlines of newspapers because, as politicians, we would not speak in secret,” Nwifuru said.
He added that although he expected the APC to win across the state, council chairmen who failed to protect their political structures would face consequences.
“The chairmen know we would win in the state, and if they choose to sleep and allow others to take their areas, they would be removed,” the governor said.
Ituma’s remarks have consequently drawn attention because they came against the backdrop of the governor’s directive to local government chairmen to secure electoral victories for the APC in 2027.
While Nwifuru’s comments focused on the political responsibility he expects from APC council chairmen, Ituma went further by directly warning opposition actors against political activity in Ohaukwu and threatening to declare those who worked against his political interests persona non grata.
The development is likely to raise concerns about political tolerance and the right of opposition parties to organise, campaign and participate freely in the democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.
Neither the governor nor the Ohaukwu council chairman, from the material supplied, provided any legal basis for restricting lawful opposition political activity in the local government area.
