Governor Francis Nwifuru has disclosed plans to appoint 1,710 Executive Assistants into his administration in the next few weeks.

The Governor made the announcement on Tuesday during the swearing-in ceremony and inauguration of the 13 newly elected Council Chairmen with their Vices in the state.

Although the Governor did not disclose the expected roles and responsibilities of the Executive Assistants, he stated that the appointment was to expand the inclusive disposition of his administration and enhance grassroots participation in governance.

He explained that 10 persons are to be appointed per ward across the 171 political wards of the State, comprising of 5 women, 2 men and 3 youths. He called on the ward chairmen of the All Progressives Congress party in the state to work under the supervision of the council chairmen, the Developmemt Centre Coordinators and other key stakeholders to nominate persons for the appointment.

Addressing the newly sworn-in chairmen, Governor Nwifuru charged them to show diligence in their duties and avoid acts capabale of destroying their future ambitions, adding that the seat of a council chairman is the toughest among elected political positions.

He further urged them to work hard to ensure the victory of the APC in the State in the 2027 general election.

“The job of a local government chairman can make or mar you.

“If you don’t do well as a local government chairman, you will never be a good market for any political party to promote

“Be very mindfull of what you do, what you say”, the Governor admonished.

He further advised them to be loyal to the Party under which platform they ascended the seat as well as respect all genuine stakeholders of their Council areas to advance the People’s Charter of Needs agenda of the government.

Setting the background for the event, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Uruchi Odo, said the act was in tandem with Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which provides for the position of elected local government chairmen and councillors at the 3rd tier of government.

Odo described the event as a significant moment “when the mandate of the people becomes a responsibility of leadership.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Uchenna Igwe commended the Governor for his continued efforts at bequeathing to the state what he descrined as “ingredients of good governance”, pointing to foreign scholarships, reforms in health sector, infrastructural revolution, creation of 15 additional autonomous communities and allowing full autonomy for LGAs in the state as some of the Governor’s laudable achievements.

All the Speakers congratulated the new Council chairmen while commending the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) for conducting what they described as “the freest, fairest and most credible election in the State.

In an acceptance speech on behalf of the others, the Afikpo Council Chairman, Engr. Timothy Nwachi, pledged that they will deliver on their mandate at the grassroots to jistify the people’s confidence.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress won all the 13 Local government areas in the Council Elections conducted on Saturday August 22, 2026.

Among those sworn in is Osborne Umahi, son of the immediate past governor of the state and now Minister of Works, David Umahi.