Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has threatened to remove any local government chairman who fails to deliver his or her council area to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Nwifuru issued the warning on Tuesday in Abakaliki during the inauguration of newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the state’s 13 Local Government Areas.
The governor said the performance of the council chairmen would be judged by their ability to secure victory for the APC in their respective local government areas during the 2027 elections.
According to him, any chairman who fails to deliver his council area for the ruling party would be removed from office and replaced by a councillor.
“Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office and replaced with a councillor,” Nwifuru stated.
The governor said he deliberately made the warning publicly because political leaders should not conceal their expectations from those serving under them.
He urged the council chairmen to work aggressively to strengthen the APC at the grassroots and prevent opposition parties from gaining ground in their respective areas.
Nwifuru also directed the chairmen to work towards delivering the state to the APC with what he described as a 100 per cent performance in the 2027 elections.
“Charity begins from home,” he told the council leaders, stressing the need for them to consolidate the party’s support within their local government areas.
The governor further advised the newly inaugurated vice chairmen to maintain a cordial working relationship with their chairmen and avoid rivalry that could undermine the administration of their councils.
He compared the vice chairmen to “spare tyres inside the car boot,” explaining that they should remain supportive and ready to assume responsibility only when circumstances require it.
Nwifuru urged the vice chairmen to remain actively involved in the affairs of their councils while avoiding gossip and advice that could create unnecessary conflict with their principals.
He cited his deputy governor as an example, noting that she previously served as a local government chairman and demonstrated the capacity that eventually earned her the opportunity to become deputy governor.
“My deputy is doing the work perfectly and presently enjoying the position,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated council chairmen, the re-elected Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Chief Timothy Nwachi, thanked Governor Nwifuru and other APC stakeholders for the opportunity to serve.
Nwachi pledged that the chairmen would justify the confidence placed in them and work towards securing a landslide victory for the APC in Ebonyi State in 2027.
Among the newly inaugurated council chairmen are Osborne Umahi, son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who will head Ohaozara Local Government Area.
Also inaugurated was Chidi Nwode, the younger brother of Governor Nwifuru’s wife, as chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area.
The development was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
