The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State has called on Governor Francis Nwifuru to retract his recent remarks against opposition figures and apologize unreservedly or resign from office.
Darlington Peter-Onwe, the PDP publicity secretary in the state, made the call during a live radio programme, accusing the governor of making comments capable of escalating hostility and political violence against opposition members ahead of the 2027 general election.
Peter-Onwe said Nwifuru should take responsibility for his remarks, which he described as inciting and contrary to the government’s constitutional duty to protect lives and property.
“The governor should apologize to Ebonyians or resign. He should retract the statement or step down because he has violated the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy,” Peter-Onwe said.
“Section 14 of the Constitution explicitly provides that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. “By making such statements, he is now the one insinuating violence,” he said.
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The PDP’s reaction followed remarks by Nwifuru during the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected local government council chairmen and their deputies in Abakaliki.
The governor had dismissed allegations that members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, were harassing and intimidating political critics, while warning opposition members that “they will see real threats at the right time”.
Nwifuru also directed the newly inaugurated chairmen to ensure APC dominance at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 elections.
“You must not allow the opposition to win in your respective local government councils during the 2027 general elections,” Nwifuru said.
“Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office. We will use your councillor and remove you. If you allow anybody to come to your local government council and mess up, deal with that person mercilessly,” he said.
“I want this information to make the headlines because, as politicians, we do not speak in secret. The chairmen know we will win the state, and if they choose to sleep and allow others to take their areas, they will be removed,” he added.
The Cable
