ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA — Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has issued a stark warning to newly inaugurated local government chairmen, threatening to remove any chairman who fails to secure victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress in their respective councils during the 2027 general elections.
The governor issued the threat on Tuesday in Abakaliki while inaugurating the new chairmen and vice chairmen of the 13 local government areas of the state, following the local government elections held over the weekend . Nwifuru made it clear that his directive was not a private conversation but a public declaration that should be reported widely.
“Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office and replaced with a councillor,” Nwifuru declared. “I want this information to be on the headlines of newspapers because, as politicians, we would not speak in secret. 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 urged the chairmen not to allow the opposition to thrive in their areas, invoking the principle that “charity begins from home” and that political victory must be secured at the grassroots level . He further charged them to do all in their powers to deliver the APC 100 per cent in 2027, emphasising that the party’s dominance in the state must remain unchallenged.
Addressing the vice chairmen, Nwifuru admonished them to work in harmony with their chairmen and avoid any acts of rivalry. He likened their positions to “spare tyres inside the car boot,” explaining that their relevance depends on the chairmen’s success. “It’s only when the tyre refuses to function or collapses irreversibly that they can function,” he said.
The governor also offered counsel on maintaining professional relationships, urging vice chairmen to remain available to their chairmen and inquire about council activities without overstepping boundaries. “Do not listen to gossip and ill advice from your friends against your chairmen because that will destroy your relationship with them,” he warned.
Drawing from his own political experience, Nwifuru noted that his deputy, who was a former council chairman, rose to her current position because she performed in ways that people saw and believed she could handle greater responsibilities. “She performed in ways people saw her and believed she could do the work of a deputy governor. My deputy is doing the work perfectly and presently enjoying the position,” the governor said.
The re-elected Chairman of Afikpo LGA, Chief Timothy Nwachi, responded on behalf of the new chairmen, thanking the governor and party stakeholders for giving them the opportunity to serve the people. “We pledge to justify the confidence reposed in us and especially ensure that APC records landslide in 2027,” Nwachi said.
Among the new chairmen inaugurated were Osborne Umahi, son of Works Minister David Umahi, who is now Chairman of Ohaozara LGA, and Mr Chidi Nwode, younger brother to Governor Nwifuru’s wife, who takes charge of Ikwo LGA .
The governor’s directive underscores the high-stakes nature of local government administration in Ebonyi State, where political survival is increasingly tied to electoral performance . As the 2027 elections approach, the new council chairmen face the dual challenge of delivering development to their communities while ensuring that their political futures are secured through electoral success .
