DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Inspired by Ebonyi governor, council chairman warns opposition to stay away ahead of 2027 election

From Premium Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Ohaukwu council chairman Paul Ituma said opposition politicians should stay away from the Ebonyi local government area or support the APC and Governor Francis Nwifuru.
  • His remarks followed Nwifuru’s warning that council chairmen who fail to deliver their areas to the APC in 2027 could be removed.
  • A legal practitioner said the governor does not have the power to remove a council chairman under Ebonyi’s local government law.

“If you are not of APC’s stock, don’t come close to us,” Paul Ituma told supporters after taking office as chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area in Ebonyi State. He said opposition politicians should stay away from the council area ahead of the 2027 election or submit to the All Progressives Congress and Governor Francis Nwifuru.

A video of Ituma’s remarks appeared on social media on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after Nwifuru threatened to remove any council chairman who failed to win his local government area for the APC in 2027. Speaking at a meeting after his inauguration, Ituma described anyone opposing the governor or the party as his enemy and said those who came to Ohaukwu could be declared persona non grata.

If you are not of APC’s stock, don’t come close to us. This is the time for politics. I don’t have a shop at the International Market or Okwo Ngbo Market; politics is my business.

· Paul ItumaThe Ohaukwu council chairman made the remarks after his inauguration while warning opposition politicians.

“Anybody who is fighting the governor of Ebonyi State is my enemy from today and will be treated like an enemy,” he said. “This is the time for politics. I don’t have a shop at the International Market or Okwo Ngbo Market; politics is my business.”

Nwifuru had told newly inaugurated chairmen that they would not stop the APC from winning and that those who failed could lose their positions. “When we win, we will remove you,” he said.

Anybody who is fighting the governor of Ebonyi State is my enemy from today and will be treated like an enemy.

· Paul ItumaItuma said opponents of Governor Francis Nwifuru should stay away from Ohaukwu.

Obioma Ezenwobodo, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, told PREMIUM TIMES that Nwifuru has no power to remove a local government chairman. He said Ebonyi has a local law governing the operation of its local government areas.

The remarks come amid similar election-related warnings by Nigerian politicians. In August, Kuje Area Council chairman Danjuma Shekwolo told residents to vote for the APC in 2027 or leave the council area. After public outrage and calls for his arrest, Shekwolo said his comments had been taken out of context and did not represent his intention or his administration’s position.

You will not stop us (APC) from winning. But when we win, we will remove you.

· Francis NwifuruThe Ebonyi governor warned newly inaugurated council chairmen about failing to deliver their areas to the APC.
About this summary

Originally published by Premium Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog