The newly sworn-in Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Eze Paul Ituma, has declared that opposition elements who challenge Governor Francis Nwifuru or reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should stay away from the council area.
Ituma issued the warning on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, shortly after he was sworn in alongside other newly elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen by Governor Nwifuru in Abakaliki.
The chairman said Ohaukwu would have no room for individuals opposed to the governor or the APC, warning that such persons would be treated as enemies and declared persona non grata in the council area.
He said his political allegiance was firmly with the governor and the APC, while urging opposition elements not to interfere in the council’s affairs.
“Maybe from what the governor has said that we should embrace our enemies, our opposition, maybe they want to submit to us. Anybody who’s not thinking in that direction shouldn’t come around Ohaukwu LGA because Ohaukwu is cordoned off and anybody who tries to do that will be declared persona non grata,” Ituma said.
“And we’ll not for any reason… This is the time for politics. I don’t have shop at the International Market or Okwo Ngbo Market; my shop is politics. Anyone who wants to put sand in my garri should not come close to Ohaukwu.”
The chairman further warned that anyone perceived to be working against Governor Nwifuru would be regarded as an enemy.
“Anybody who’s fighting the governor of Ebonyi State is my enemy from today and will be treated like enemy. If you’re not of APC stock, do not come close to us,” he declared.
Ituma’s remarks came only hours after Governor Nwifuru issued a warning to the newly inaugurated local government chairmen over their performance in the 2027 elections.
The governor, while inaugurating the 13 newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen in Abakaliki on Tuesday, said the council chairmen were expected to deliver their respective local government areas to the APC in the 2027 elections.
Nwifuru warned that any chairman who failed to secure victory for the APC in his council would risk losing his position.
The governor’s directive has heightened political expectations ahead of the 2027 elections, with the newly elected council leadership now under pressure to mobilise support for the ruling party across Ebonyi State.
