Governor Francis Nwifuru Ebonyi State has directed the newly sworn-in chairmen of the state’s 13 local government areas to strengthen the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and adopt a tough stance against opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nwifuru gave the directive on Tuesday at the Christian Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, the state capital, while addressing the newly inaugurated council chairmen.

The governor charged the council bosses to justify the confidence reposed in them by the people and his administration by delivering effective governance, promoting development and responding to the needs of residents in their respective councils.

He warned that he would closely monitor their performance and would not hesitate to take action against any chairman who failed to meet the expectations of the government.

Nwifuru also cautioned the newly inaugurated officials against complacency, stressing that their positions came with significant responsibilities and that they would be held accountable for their performance.

Turning to the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, the governor tasked the chairmen with consolidating the APC’s presence across the 13 local government areas and ensuring the party remained politically dominant in the state.

He made the directive in strong terms, telling the council chairmen: “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 statement places the newly inaugurated council chairmen at the centre of the APC’s grassroots political mobilisation in Ebonyi ahead of the 2027 elections.

Nwifuru further warned that chairmen who failed to perform could lose their positions, indicating that his administration would take decisive measures against officials who fell short of its expectations.

He added that his administration would continue to demand results from the council chairmen, stressing that their political and administrative responsibilities must translate into tangible benefits for the people.