PDP Demands Governor Nwifuru Apologize or Resign Over Alleged Opposition Threats
Abakaliki, September 5, 2026 — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has issued a strongly worded demand to Governor Francis Nwifuru: retract his recent comments targeting the opposition, offer an unreserved apology to the people of the state, or resign from office.
The call came from the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Darlington Peter-Onwe, during a live radio programme on Friday. He described the governor’s utterances as inciting and capable of stoking political tension and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The Governor should apologize to the 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.
He pointed to Section 14 of the Nigerian Constitution, which makes the protection of lives and property the primary responsibility of government, arguing that the remarks effectively insinuated violence.
What the Governor Said
The controversy stems from remarks Nwifuru made on Tuesday while inaugurating newly elected local government council chairmen and their deputies in Abakaliki.
Dismissing opposition claims that APC members and supporters were harassing political critics, the governor issued a sharp counter-warning.
“Political opposition in the state are alleging harassment and intimidation by the ruling All Progressives Congress. They will see real threats at the right time,” he declared.
He went further, directing the new chairmen to ensure total APC dominance at the grassroots level ahead of the 2027 elections and warning of consequences for failure.
“You must not allow the opposition to win in your respective local government councils during the 2027 general elections. 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,” Nwifuru charged.
He added that he wanted the message to make headlines, stressing that politicians do not speak in secret.
PDP’s Concerns and Wider Context
Peter-Onwe claimed the rhetoric had already triggered hostility against opposition members and media practitioners in the state.
He contrasted Nwifuru’s approach with that of Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who publicly apologised after a disruption in the education sector, describing such accountability as the mark of true leadership.
The latest exchange adds to earlier political tensions in Ebonyi. In June, Nwifuru had rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu had handed political control of the state to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the PDP, using strong language about the capacity to “consume” or “destroy” those testing the administration.
Those earlier comments also drew sharp criticism from PDP factions.
At the time of the latest reports, efforts to reach the Ebonyi APC for an official response were unsuccessful.
As political temperatures rise ahead of the 2027 elections, the exchange underscores the high stakes of grassroots control and the fine line between political mobilization and rhetoric that opposition parties view as threatening. Security agencies and civil society groups are likely to monitor developments closely in the weeks ahead.
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