Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has warned newly inaugurated local government chairmen that they risk losing their positions if they fail to deliver their respective council areas to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2027 general elections.
Nwifuru issued the warning on Tuesday in Abakaliki, the state capital, while inaugurating the newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen of the state’s 13 local government areas.
The governor told the council chairmen that they would be held responsible for the performance of the ruling party in their respective local government areas. He declared that any chairman whose council fails to produce an APC victory could be removed from office and replaced by a councillor.
According to Nwifuru, the warning was not a private threat and should be made public. He stressed that the chairmen were expected to actively mobilise support for the APC and ensure the party maintains its dominance across the state.
The governor also expressed confidence that the APC would win across Ebonyi in the 2027 elections, urging the newly inaugurated council bosses to work towards what he described as a 100 per cent victory for the party.
Nwifuru further advised the chairmen not to allow opposition parties to gain political ground in their respective local government areas. He argued that political responsibility should begin at the grassroots, encouraging the council officials to strengthen the APC’s presence in their communities.
The governor’s remarks have attracted attention because they place significant political expectations on elected local government officials ahead of the 2027 elections. The comments also raise questions about the relationship between elected council administrations and political party expectations during election periods.
Beyond the political warning, Nwifuru urged the new chairmen and their deputies to maintain a good working relationship. He cautioned vice-chairmen against unnecessary rivalry with their principals, stressing that cooperation would be important for effective administration at the local government level.
The governor also highlighted the political importance of commitment and performance, pointing to the career progression of his deputy as an example of how service at the local government level could create opportunities for higher political office.
The newly inaugurated chairmen, meanwhile, pledged their commitment to the administration and the APC. Speaking on behalf of the council bosses, Afikpo Local Government Chairman Timothy Nwachi reportedly expressed confidence that the party would record a strong performance in the 2027 elections, nwifuru’s statement comes as Nigerian political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections. With the governor openly demanding strong grassroots mobilisation, the political contest in Ebonyi is expected to intensify as the election approaches.
For the council chairmen, the message from the governor is clear
delivering their respective local government areas for the APC will be a major political expectation ahead of 2027.