‘No One Can Hand Ebonyi State to Wike’

Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru has fully rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu handed over political control of Ebonyi state to FCT minister, Nyesom Wike ahead of the 2027 elections.

He disclosed this while speaking at a stakeholders’ rally in Abakaliki, organised in support of his re-election bid. The Ebonyi governor said some allies of Wike in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been peddling such claims across the state.

He 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!’.”

‘Eeyah’ is Nigerian Pidgin which roughly translates to “what a pity!”

The governor further cautioned against what he described as political overreach.

He issued a warning, saying “Don’t push us.”

Governor Nwifuru’s statement comes amid growing political realignments in the south-east and speculation over the influence of key political actors ahead of the 2027 general election.

Additionally, Nwifuru, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), used the opportunity to reaffirm his support for Tinubu and mobilise backing for the party in the state.

He also highlighted ongoing development projects in Ebonyi and federal government initiatives affecting the south-east region.

BACKSTORY…

Meanwhile, this development comes shirtly after Nwifuru took a very drastic step by dissolving the political and traditional leadership structures of the Amasiri clan in Afikpo LGA following the killing of three persons over a communal land dispute.