ABAKILIKI: Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has warned opposition parties in the state that they will face a stronger political challenge at the appropriate time, as the ruling All Progressives Congress intensifies its grassroots mobilization ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nwifuru issued the warning on Tuesday during the swearing-in of 13 newly elected local government chairmen and their deputies at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The governor was reacting to allegations by opposition parties that APC members and supporters had been harassing and intimidating political opponents across the state.
While dismissing the allegations, Nwifuru warned opposition politicians that what they had seen so far was nothing compared with what could come during the political contest.
Political oppositions in the state are alleging harassment and intimidation by the ruling All Progressives Congress, the governor said.
They will see real threat at the right time.
The governor also tasked the newly inaugurated council chairmen with consolidating the APC’s political strength at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 elections.
Nwifuru specifically warned the chairmen against allowing opposition parties to defeat the APC in their respective local government areas.
You must not allow the opposition to win in your respective local government councils during the 2027 general elections, he charged the newly sworn-in council leaders.
The directive underscores the importance the state government is placing on grassroots mobilization as political parties begin positioning themselves for the next general elections.
The governor urged the new council chairmen to remain focused on strengthening the party’s presence across their respective local government areas.
The inauguration followed the conclusion of the recent local government elections conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC).
The APC emerged victorious across all 13 local government areas and 171 wards in the council elections.
However, the exercise was boycotted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which called for its suspension and raised concerns over the electoral process.
Nwifuru nevertheless commended EBSIEC for what he described as the peaceful conduct of the local government elections.
The governor said the peaceful outcome demonstrated the ability of the state to conduct elections without widespread disruption.
With the newly elected chairmen now assuming office, the APC is expected to intensify its grassroots political structure across Ebonyi ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor’s warning to opposition parties and his directive to the council chairmen indicate that the political battle for Ebonyi in 2027 is already taking shape, with the APC seeking to maintain its dominance across the state.
