Ebonyi LG Chair threatens opposition after Gov’s charge

The newly elected Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Eze Paul Ituma, has cautioned opposition political parties and their supporters to refrain from engaging in political activities within the region ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking on the matter, Ituma declared that anyone attempting to act against his political interests would be labeled persona non grata.

He emphasized that politics is his primary focus and warned, "Anyone who dares to do so will be declared persona non grata. This is the time for politics. I don’t have a shop at the International Market; politics is my business. Anyone who wants to put sand in my garri should not come close to Ohaukwu."

Ituma, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently took office as the Chairman of the local government. His stern warning followed Governor Francis Nwifuru's threat to remove any local government chairman who fails to secure victory for the APC in the 2027 elections. Nwifuru made the announcement during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen of the 13 local government areas in the state.

He stated, "Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office and replaced with a councillor. I want this information to be on the headlines of newspapers because, as politicians, we would not speak in secret." Nwifuru also noted that he is confident they would win the state, and failure to secure a win would result in removal from their positions.