Nwifuru challenges Wike over claims about Ebonyi's political control

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu handed over the control of Ebonyi State to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, before the 2027 governorship election.

Mr Nwifuru, who is part of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on June 15 during a rally in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.

The rally, shown live on TVC News, was held to support the re-election of the governor and President Tinubu in the upcoming election.

‘We have what it takes to deal with you’

At the rally, Mr Nwifuru said some of Mr Wike’s unnamed supporters have been spreading rumors that Mr Tinubu has given Ebonyi to the Federal Capital Minister and his faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Some people are going around and saying that they discussed with President Tinubu and that the president has given Ebonyi to PDP. They said Nyesom Wike is their leader and that Wike said the president has given Ebonyi to him. And we say to them, ‘eeyaah!’” he said.

‘Eeyah’ is an expression that means “what a pity.”

The governor promised to stop this move and warned Mr Wike and anyone involved in the alleged plan, saying that Ebonyi is not for sale.

“Now, I want to say this as your governor: We are not afraid. We only hold ourselves because our people are with us. Nobody should push us because we have what it takes to deal with anyone trying us; we have what it takes to destroy anyone trying us,” he said, clearly pointing at Mr Wike and his supporters.

Mr Nwifuru continued, “We’re sending a message to them directly or indirectly that we’re members of the All Progressives Congress and that’s where Ebonyi people belong. Whoever is trying our resolve will see a funny outcome.”

The governor was supported at the rally by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, who made a surprise appearance despite being part of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Meanwhile, Mr Wike is officially part of the PDP faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Yet, he works under the administration of Mr Tinubu, a member of the ruling APC.

The FCT minister has shown his support for Mr Tinubu’s re-election as president in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

PDP factions react to Nwifuru’s comments

Although Mr Wike has not responded to the governor’s remarks, his PDP faction criticized the governor, calling his comments reckless, inflammatory, and desperate ahead of the 2027 elections.

The spokesperson for the PDP faction, Jungudo Mohammed, spoke at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat on Thursday. He told the governor that the 2027 governorship election in Ebonyi would depend on performance, not intimidation or blackmail.

“These unfortunate statements clearly expose a governor who is increasingly troubled by the thought of being rejected by the people of Ebonyi State in 2027,” he said.

The spokesperson challenged the governor to prepare for a face-off with their faction’s governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Odii, in the 2027 election.

Mr Mohammed said their faction does not accept Mr Nwifuru dragging Mr Wike into his local political issues. He also urged security agencies and civil society to take note of the governor’s “disturbing” comments.

“If the governor truly wishes to ‘consume’ the people of Ebonyi State, let him do so through visible developmental projects, effective governance, and real improvements in their living conditions,” he said.

However, another PDP faction, led by Kabiru Turaki, praised Governor Nwifuru for speaking against Mr Wike.

In a statement on Thursday, the spokesperson for this PDP faction, Ini Ememobong, defended Mr Nwifuru, saying the governor simply “called out and condemned the anti-party activities and political blackmail” of the FCT minister.

Mr Ememobong said the governor’s remarks highlighted “the painful fact of Wike’s interference in political matters outside his official and geographic areas” using Mr Tinubu’s name.

“We are sure that Governor Nwifuru knows the bad role Wike, as the former governor of Rivers State, played in pushing his predecessor (Dave Umahi) out of the PDP,” he stated.

The spokesperson confirmed that Alexander Eze remains the governorship candidate of their PDP faction in Ebonyi State ahead of the election.