Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has threatened to remove any local government chairman who fails to deliver his council area to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Nwifuru issued the warning on Tuesday, September 1, while inaugurating the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the state’s 13 local government areas in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The governor, who urged the council bosses to take full responsibility for securing victory for the APC in their respective areas, declared that any chairman who failed to deliver his council would be replaced with a councillor.
“Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office and replaced with a councillor,” Nwifuru said.
He stressed that the warning was not meant to be secret, urging the media to prominently report his position.
“I want this information to be on the headlines of newspapers because, as politicians, we would not speak in secret,” he said.
Nwifuru said the chairmen were already aware that the APC was poised to win the state in 2027, warning that they would pay the price if they became complacent and allowed opposition parties to gain ground in their respective councils.
“The chairmen know we would win in the state and if they choose to sleep and allow others take their areas, they would be removed,” he added.
The governor reminded the council chairmen that “charity begins from home”, charging them to prevent opposition parties from gaining a foothold in their local government areas.
He further directed them to work towards delivering the state to the APC “100 per cent” in the 2027 elections.
Nwifuru also cautioned the newly inaugurated vice chairmen against rivalry with their principals, urging them to maintain a cordial working relationship with the council chairmen.
Using an automobile analogy, the governor likened the vice chairmen to “spare tyres inside the car boot”, stressing that they should remain supportive and only assume full responsibility when circumstances require it.
“You should always be available to the chairmen and ask them of your councils’ daily activities,” he advised.
He further warned the vice chairmen against allowing rumours or external influence to undermine their relationship with their chairmen.
“Do not listen to gossip and ill advice from your friends against your chairmen because that will destroy your relationship with them,” he said.
Nwifuru cited his deputy governor as an example of how effective performance at the local government level could open the door to higher office.
According to him, his deputy had previously served as a council chairman and distinguished herself through her performance, eventually earning the confidence that led to her emergence as deputy governor.
“She performed in ways people saw her and believe she could do the work of a deputy governor.
“My deputy is doing the work perfectly and presently enjoying the position,” the governor said.
