Police respond to threats against opposition in Ebonyi State

The Nigeria Police Force has reacted to threats made against opposition politicians by Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and Paul Ituma, the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area.

On 1 September, during the swearing-in of newly elected local government chairpersons, Governor Nwifuru said he would remove these officials if the APC does not win the 2027 elections in their areas.

He warned them, saying, "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."

After the governor's comments, Paul Ituma, the new Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government, issued a warning to opposition politicians. He said they should stay away from the council area before the election or “submit” to his APC and the governor.

Ituma said, "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."

He added, "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. If you are not of APC’s stock, don’t come close to us. This is the time for politics. I don’t have a shop at the International Market or Okwo Ngbo Market; politics is my business."

Police Response

The police responded to the governor's comments. Joshua Ukandu, the police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, said in a press conference on 3 September that the Commissioner of Police warned politicians against making threats to opponents.

On 8 September, Mr Ukandu, a superintendent of police, told this newspaper that the police were planning a meeting with stakeholders in Ohaukwu regarding the chairman’s threats.

On Wednesday, he confirmed that the meeting took place on 9 September at the state police headquarters in Abakaliki. The state Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Dennis Anyai, led the meeting.

Ukandu said the attendees agreed to “tone down” their language against the opposition. He stated, "They all agreed because it was everybody from different political spectrums within that area."

The meeting included representatives from all political parties in Ohaukwu and a former governor of the state, Sam Egwu. Others present were Mr Ituma, the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, and Chinedu Onah, the Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

PDP Warns APC

In response, the PDP in Ebonyi cautioned the APC against making threats to opposition parties. The party insisted that the state does not belong to the APC and urged residents to protect democratic choices. They encouraged citizens to defend their right to choose leaders in 2027.

Chukwuma Igwe, the state chairman of the PDP, stated, "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."

Igwe described Governor Nwifuru’s comments as a threat to political opposition in the state. He urged democratic bodies, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to monitor the political climate in Ebonyi as elections approach.

He concluded, "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."