Igwe Chukwuma
Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Francis Nwifuru of issuing a “merciless” threat against opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party said the governor’s directive to 13 newly sworn-in local government chairmen to “deal with” opposition elements could trigger political violence in the state. Nwifuru gave the charge on Tuesday during the inauguration of council chairmen, their deputies and 171 councillors at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
“If you allow anybody to come to your local government and mess up, deal with that person mercilessly. It is either you are with me, or you are against me,” the governor was quoted as saying. He also warned that any chairman who failed to deliver his Local Government Area to the APC would be removed.
“As a local government chairman, if you like, go and sleep so that another person will take over your house. You will not stop us from winning, but when we win, we will remove you,” Nwifuru added.
The governor declared that APC would sweep all positions in 2027. “We cannot leave any position to any other political party; we will win 100 per cent. Go and tell the opposition this,” he said.
But reacting to the development, the PDP State Chairman, Hon. Igwe Chukwuma, condemned the remarks as reckless and “an open charge to visit official hostility upon citizens for no offence beyond their choice of party.”
“This is not political banter. It is an invitation to violence,” Chukwuma said.
The party alleged the comments were part of a pattern of combative rhetoric, recalling a previous statement in which Nwifuru allegedly vowed to “consume” the opposition. PDP also linked the governor’s tone to recent attacks on opposition members in Ohaukwu and Ezza South LGAs, and alleged assaults on journalists covering political activities.
The opposition further faulted the legality of the EBSIEC polls, arguing that the emergence of APC candidates in all 13 LGAs and 171 wards was not a product of genuine democratic competition.
It cited constitutional provisions and past court rulings, insisting the new council structure was “legally defective.” PDP called on security agencies to remain neutral and protect all citizens regardless of party affiliation.
“Ebonyi State does not belong to one political party, and its security architecture does not exist to serve one political entity. That principle is non-negotiable,” the party said. We will not be intimidated into silence. We will resist, through every lawful and constitutional avenue, any further assault on our members,” it added.
The PDP vowed to mobilize ahead of 2027, insisting that Ebonyi people must be allowed to freely determine their leaders at the ballot.
