Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has warned the newly inaugurated local government chairmen that they could lose their positions if they fail to deliver their respective councils to the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.
Nwifuru issued the warning on Tuesday in Abakaliki while inaugurating the new chairmen and vice chairmen of the state’s 13 local government areas.
He told the chairmen that winning their councils for the APC would be part of their responsibility as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
“Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office and replaced with a councillor.”
The governor stressed that he was making his position publicly known rather than issuing a private warning.
“I want this information to be on the headlines of newspapers because, as politicians, we would not speak in secret.”
Nwifuru said the chairmen should not relax or allow opposition parties to gain ground in their councils, directing them to work towards delivering total victory for the APC.
“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.”
He also called on the chairmen to engage members of opposition parties and attempt to bring them into the APC.
“Engage all your opponents. Engage those who contested against you. Discuss with them, bring them back to our party,” he said.
The governor further warned the newly elected officials against allowing existing political disagreements to affect their relationships at the local government level.
“Don’t ever inherit anybody’s enemy. My enemy shouldn’t be your enemy. Reconcile with them. Did you hear me? My enemy can be your friend, and reconcile with us,” he said.
Nwifuru also cautioned the deputy chairmen against listening to people who could create disagreements between them and their principals.
The governor’s comments have generated reactions online, with some Nigerians questioning whether an elected local government chairman can legally be removed simply for failing to deliver his council to a political party.
Reacting, @stan.oguegbu: “What if APC didn’t win in Ebonyi, will Nwifuru be removed as the governor? 🤔”
@naturalecho30: “If he loose his state, then he’ll be changed too.”
@Nnamdi042: “He is speaking in bricklayer terms, very hard”
@lawrence.fawole.9: “This means u are also going because NDC is 99% winning Ebonyi state”
@ofoegbu.stanley.50: “And I heard he studied law ooo”
@samuel.mos.94: “Any APC governor that fails to win his state for Tinubu will be removed and replaced with the speaker of the assembly…”
@walter.uke.2025: “No be the same councillor weh suppose win him ward for chairman?”
@jonathan.johnlovelogo: “Were they elected by the electorate or appointed by the governor? I heard you had a humble beginning oo.”
@akinyemi.akinjiire: “Who told you, you are retaining that seat”
@friday.onuh.3979: “A chairman sacked as an appointee or elected Chairman?”
@profile_61580008959362: “Very laughable”
