The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has warned newly sworn-in local government chairmen that any chairman who fails to deliver his council area to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections will be removed from office.
Nwifuru issued the warning on Tuesday during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected 13 council chairmen and vice chairmen at the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
Addressing the gathering, which was attended by APC National Assembly members, party leaders, and other stakeholders, the Governor said the mandate given to the chairmen came with the responsibility of delivering the APC at all levels.
“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.
“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.
He directed the chairmen to return to their councils and begin mobilisation for the APC, saying the party would win 100 per cent in the 2027 general 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 also advised the newly sworn-in vice chairmen to remain loyal to their chairmen, describing the office as that of a “spare tyre” that must be ready to serve.
He cited his Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, a former vice chairman, as an example of loyalty and hard work.
“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 stated.
Governor Nwifuru further directed party leaders at the ward level to submit 20 names for appointment as executive assistants to the governor, with priority given to women and youths.
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He also announced a donation of One Million Naira (N1 million) to each chairman and Three Hundred Thousand Naira (₦300,000) to each vice chairman from Gem Brass Construction.
The governor congratulated the new council chairmen and reminded them that they had sworn to serve the people and obey the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly Sections 7 and 8, which guarantee the system of democratically elected local government councils.
He thanked the APC leadership in the state, the campaign committee led by Ambassador Franklin Nchita, INEC for conducting what he described as “one of the fairest and most peaceful elections,” and other candidates who conceded defeat.
“As politicians, don’t ever try to hide your political position from anybody. Tell the person openly: ‘You are either with me or against me.’ That is what I do,” Nwifuru added.
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