2027: Ohaukwu Chairman Tells Opposition to Stay Away

The new Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Paul Ituma, has told opposition politicians to keep their distance from the council area as the 2027 election approaches. He said they should either join his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), or stay away.

A video of Mr Ituma's comments appeared on social media on Wednesday. This was just one day after Governor Francis Nwifuru warned that any chairman who does not win his council area for the APC in 2027 would be removed.

At a meeting after his swearing-in, Mr Ituma stated that anyone opposing Governor Nwifuru or the APC is now his enemy and should not come near Ohaukwu LGA. He said, "Except maybe based on what the governor has said, the opposition wants to submit to us so that we can embrace them. Anybody who is not thinking in that direction should not come around Ohaukwu Local Government because Ohaukwu is cordoned off, and anybody who dares to do that will be declared persona non grata."

He added, "Anybody who wants to bring sand to put in my garri should not come to Ohaukwu. Anybody who is fighting the governor of Ebonyi State is my enemy from today and will be treated like an enemy."

Mr Ituma continued, "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."

These comments came after Governor Nwifuru's earlier warning to any council chairman who fails to secure his council area for the APC in the upcoming election. The governor said, "As a local government chairman, if you like, go and sleep so that another person will take over your house. You will not stop us (APC) from winning. But when we win, we will remove you."

Obioma Ezenwobodo, a lawyer based in Abuja, told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Nwifuru does not have the authority to remove any local government chairman. He emphasized that Ebonyi State has local laws that regulate how local governments operate.