The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has said the state does not belong to any particular political party and urged residents to defend democratic pluralism.
The party said they should also defend their constitutional right to choose their political leaders in 2027.
Chukwuma Igwe, state chairman of the PDP, said this in a statement issued on Friday in Abakaliki.
Gov Nwifuru’s ‘inciting’ remarks
The PDP chairman was reacting to Governor Francis Nwifuru’s remarks at the inauguration of newly elected local government chairpersons and their deputies, where he threatened to remove the local official if the APC loses the 2027 elections in their council areas.
“As a local government chairman, if you like, go and sleep so that another person will take over your house.
“You will not stop us (APC) from winning. But when we win, we will remove you,” the governor told the newly inaugurated chairmen.
The PDP chairman described the statement as a threat to democratic participation and political opposition in the state.
“This is not a political banter; it is an open charge to visit official hostility upon citizens for no offence beyond their choice of party.
“We regard this incitement for what it is: an invitation to bloodshed and avoidable hostility,” he said.
Mr Chukwuma urged security agencies to discharge their responsibilities impartially and protect citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.
He said the PDP would not be intimidated into silence, adding that the party would use lawful and constitutional means to defend its members, structures and democratic rights.
“The Ebonyi State PDP will not fret, and we will not be intimidated into silence.
“We reaffirm our resolve to resist, through every lawful and constitutional avenue open to us, any further assault upon our members or structures,” he said.
The chairman called on democratic institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to pay attention to the political situation in Ebonyi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Let it be known that Ebonyi State does not belong to one political party; its security architecture does not exist to serve one political entity; that principle is non-negotiable,” Mr Chukwuma said.
He further said that the people should make the ultimate decision on the state’s leadership in 2027 through a free, fair, and credible electoral process.
You’re our enemy if you aren’t in the APC – Local council chairman
Apparently inspired by Governor Nwifuru’s controversial remarks, the newly sworn-in Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Paul Ituma, a few days ago, warned opposition politicians to stay away from the council area ahead of the 2027 election or submit to his APC and the Ebonyi State governor
A video clip which showed Mr Ituma making the remarks surfaced on social media on Wednesday, barely 24 hours after Governor Nwifuru threatened to remove any chairman who fails to win his council area for the APC in the 2027 election.
Speaking at a meeting after his inauguration, Mr Ituma said that anyone opposed to Governor Nwifuru or the APC had become his enemy and should stay away from Ohaukwu LGA.
“Except maybe based on what the governor has said, the opposition wants to submit to us so that we can embrace them. Anybody who is not thinking in that direction should not come around Ohaukwu Local Government because Ohaukwu is cordoned off, and anybody who dares to do that will be declared persona non grata,” the chairman said.
Continuing, he said: “Anybody who wants to bring sand to put in my garri should not come to Ohaukwu. Anybody who is fighting the governor of Ebonyi State is my enemy from today and will be treated like an enemy.”
(NAN)
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