Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has removed the Commissioner for Works, Stanley Lebechi Mbam, from office, about four months after he was reinstated following an earlier suspension.
The removal was communicated on Saturday, in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor.
Uzor said Nwifuru had directed Mbam to immediately hand over government property in his possession, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government.
He was also instructed to transfer his official responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works.
The statement did not give a reason for the governor’s decision to terminate Mbam’s appointment.
The latest development marks the second time in 2026 that Mbam has been removed from his duties by the governor.
On February 28, Nwifuru had suspended the commissioner indefinitely over concerns surrounding the pace of work and alleged dereliction of duty in the Ministry of Works. The suspension also affected the Commissioner for Infrastructure Development for Concession, Ogbonnaya Obasi Abara.
Mbam later apologised to the governor and pleaded for another opportunity to continue serving in the administration.
Three days after his suspension, on March 3, he publicly accepted responsibility for what he described as shortcomings in meeting the administration’s expectations and appealed for his reinstatement.
His appeal was eventually granted, with Nwifuru recalling him and other suspended officials on May 3.
Mbam subsequently resumed his position as Works Commissioner before his latest removal from office.
The governor’s decision comes against the backdrop of his administration’s repeated emphasis on infrastructure delivery and effective governance in Ebonyi.
In the statement announcing the latest sack, Nwifuru assured residents that his administration remained committed to providing effective governance and improving public infrastructure.
The removal also comes at a politically active period in the state, with Nwifuru recently directing newly sworn-in local government chairmen to begin preparations for the 2027 general elections.
During the swearing-in of 13 council chairmen and their deputies at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki earlier this month, the governor warned the council bosses that their political performance would determine whether they retained their positions.
“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.
He challenged the media to prominently report the warning, insisting that he was making his position openly.
“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,’” the governor declared.
Nwifuru also told the council chairmen to return to their respective local government areas and mobilise support for the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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 followed the APC’s reported victory across all 13 local government areas and 171 wards in the August Ebonyi State local government election.
The governor had urged the newly elected council officials to work within their constitutional responsibilities and avoid internal political divisions.
Nwifuru specifically cautioned vice chairmen against creating rival structures against their chairmen.
“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,” he said.
