•Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Ebonyi State has called on Governor Francis Nwifuru to immediately retract his recent statements against opposition figures in the state, tender an unreserved apology, or resign from office.
The party described the governor’s utterances as inciting and capable of stoking political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a live radio program yesterday, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Ebonyi State, Darlington Peter-Onwe, charged the governor to take responsibility for his words, noting that the rhetoric has already triggered a wave of hostility against members of opposition parties and media practitioners in the state.
“The governor should apologise to Ebonyians or resign. He should retract the statement or step down because he has violated the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy,” Peter-Onwe stated.
“Section 14 of the Constitution explicitly provides that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. By making such statements, he is now the one insinuating violence.”
Comparing Nwifuru’s response to that of other state executives, Peter-Onwe pointed to neighbouring governance as a standard for leadership accountability.
“Look at what Governor Alex Otti did when there was a disruption in the education sector. He came out openly and apologised, admitting that it shouldn’t have happened. That is the true strength of a leader,” he added.
The PDP’s outrage stems from remarks made by Governor Nwifuru on Tuesday during the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected local government council chairmen and their deputies in Abakaliki.
Dismissing allegations that members and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were harassing and intimidating political critics, Nwifuru issued a stern counter-warning to the opposition.
“Political opposition in the state are alleging harassment and intimidation by the ruling All Progressives Congress.”
“They will see real threats at the right time,” Nwifuru declared.
The governor went further to direct the newly sworn-in council chairmen to enforce total APC dominance at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 polls, warning that failure to secure their local government areas would carry swift consequences.
“You must not allow the opposition to win in your respective local government councils during the 2027 general elections,” Nwifuru charged the chairmen.
“Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office.
“We will use your councillor and remove you.
“If you allow anybody to come to your Local Government council and mess up, deal with that person mercilessly.”
Underscoring his stance, the governor added, “I want this information to make the headlines because, as politicians, we do not speak in secret.”
“The chairmen know we will win the state, and if they choose to sleep and allow others to take their areas, they will be removed.”
All efforts to reach representatives of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State for a reaction were unsuccessful at the time of publishing this report.
