Nwifuru Threatens to Sack New Council Chairmen Where APC Fails in Ebonyi

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, has threatened to sack any council chairman who fails to deliver his or her council area to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election.

Governor Nwifuru gave the warning during the swearing-in of the 13 newly elected council chairmen in the state.

He also charged the chairmen to deal decisively with anyone who talks negatively about the APC in their respective areas.

The new council chairmen included the son of the Minister of Works, Osborn Umahi, for Ohaozara Local Government Area, and the younger brother of the Ebonyi First Lady, Hon. Chidi Nwode, for Ikwo council area.

Others were: Ishielu LGA (Mrs. Peace Agwu); Ohaukwu LGA (Hon. Paul Ituma); Ezza North (Friday Nwuhuo); Ezza South (Chinedu Mkpuma); Afikpo (Timothy Nwachi); Ivo (Michael Kalu Anyim); Edda (Chief Simeon Onuoha); Izzi LGA (Mrs. Helen Aduga); Abakaliki (Hon. Chidiebere Alo), and Ebonyi LGA (Hon. Chibueze Odigwe).

The governor noted that he was optimistic that APC would win all the positions in the state during the general election.

According to him, “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.

“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, we will remove any council chairman that did not win his local government. It is as simple as that.

“It is not hidden. Let the front page of the newspaper publish it tomorrow. We will remove a council chairman that did not win his local government. So, don’t allow anybody to come to your local government and mess things up. Deal with such a person decisively if he comes to discuss your party negatively.

“Charity begins at home. It is because of your party that you are sitting here as a council chairman. It is because of my party that I am speaking to you today as your governor.”

He further announced the appointments of 1,710 persons as his Executive Assistants, to be drawn from the 171 wards.

 Nwifuru added: “My wife has complained to me that many of our women are not getting enough opportunities. So, we charge the party chairman, the local government chairmen, the coordinators of development centres and stakeholders in all the wards to give us 20 names of those who will be appointed as Executive Assistants to the Governor from the wards. Most of the nominees will be women. There will be five women and three youths, while the remaining positions will be allocated accordingly.”