Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, yesterday, said that any local council chairman who loses his local council in next year’s general election to the opposition will be removed.

Nwifuru gave the order after the swearing-in ceremony of the 13 elected chairmen at the Christian Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, the state capital, while addressing them.

He charged them to show no mercy to opposition parties in their respective jurisdictions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
 
The governor urged the council chairmen to live up to the people’s expectations by fulfilling their responsibilities and ensuring effective administration and development in their respective local council areas.
 
Nwifuru warned that he would not hesitate to take action against any council chairman who failed to perform, stressing that the chairmen must justify the confidence reposed in them by the people and the government.

He further cautioned the newly sworn-in officials not to become complacent because of their positions, insisting that their performance would be closely monitored by his administration. The governor, while speaking on the political situation ahead of the 2027 general elections, charged the council chairmen to strengthen the ruling APC in their respective councils.
 
Nwifuru used strong words in directing the chairmen on how to approach opposition parties, declaring: “Let me sound it this way, and I want to see it on the pages of newspapers tomorrow: deal with opposition parties mercilessly.”
 
The governor’s charge has placed renewed attention on the role of the newly sworn-in council chairmen in both local council administration and the political activities of their respective areas as Ebonyi prepares for the next general elections.