By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned comments allegedly made by Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, accusing him of using inflammatory rhetoric against opposition figures and attempting to drag the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, into the state’s political affairs.
It was reported that the governor had in a stakeholders’ rally in Abakaliki, organised in support of his re-election bid said
“I heard some people are saying that President Tinubu has given Ebonyi state to PDP for the 2027 governorship election, and their leader Nyesom Wike has also said that the president has given Ebonyi to him. We say to them, ‘eyaah’. Ebonyi is not for sale. We are not afraid.
“Wike’s boys in the PDP are going around claiming that Wike assured them that he has given Ebonyi state to them. We say to them ‘eeyaah!’” Nwifuru said.
Addressing journalists at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, described the governor’s remarks at a recent political rally as “reckless and inflammatory.”
The PDP alleged that Governor Nwifuru threatened to “consume” and destroy opposition elements in Ebonyi State, a statement the party said reflected growing anxiety over his political future ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
According to the opposition party, the governor’s comments were evidence of a leader struggling with declining public support and attempting to divert attention from what it described as the shortcomings of his administration.
The PDP accused the Ebonyi State government of failing to deliver meaningful development projects despite being in office for more than three years. The party questioned the impact of the reported N24 billion spent on the renovation of the state’s airport, arguing that the facility had yet to become commercially viable or generate significant economic benefits for residents.
The party also challenged the governor to account for the implementation of his administration’s overseas scholarship programme, the state of basic education, the status of road projects across local government areas, and funds allegedly budgeted for traditional rulers’ palaces.
Rejecting attempts to link Wike to Ebonyi politics, the PDP insisted that the FCT minister was not responsible for the governor’s political challenges.
“Chief Wike is not Governor Nwifuru’s political mate and should not be drawn into the governor’s self-inflicted challenges,” the statement said.
The party maintained that the real political contest in Ebonyi would be between Governor Nwifuru and the PDP governorship candidate, Ambassador Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, whom it described as capable of defeating the incumbent at the polls in 2027.
The PDP further called on security agencies and civil society organisations to monitor what it described as disturbing political language capable of escalating tensions in the state.
It warned that political disagreements should not degenerate into threats or actions that could endanger lives or undermine democratic participation.
The party urged the people of Ebonyi State to remain committed to democratic processes and use their votes in 2027 to determine the future direction of the state.
According to the PDP, the forthcoming election will be decided by issues of governance, performance and accountability rather than intimidation, propaganda or political blackmail.
