Ebonyi Belongs to Its People, Not Wike — Nwifuru Dismisses 2027 Political Rumours

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu has handed over political control of the state to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nwifuru made the remarks during a stakeholders rally held in Abakaliki in support of his re-election bid.

The governor said supporters of Wike within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been spreading rumours that the president had allegedly ceded Ebonyi State to the former Rivers governor as part of political arrangements ahead of the next election cycle.

“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,” Nwifuru said.

“We say to them, ‘Eeyah’. Ebonyi is not for sale. We are not afraid.”

The governor further alleged that some PDP members loyal to Wike had continued to make similar claims across the state.

“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, ‘Eeyah’,” he added.

Nwifuru warned against what he described as political overreach and attempts to intimidate members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

“Don’t push us,” the governor cautioned.

The remarks come amid increasing political manoeuvring and realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly within the South-East region.

Nwifuru used the gathering to reaffirm his support for President Tinubu and mobilise grassroots backing for the APC in Ebonyi State.

He also highlighted ongoing infrastructure and development projects in the state as well as federal government interventions impacting the South-East.

The rally attracted party supporters, traditional rulers and political stakeholders from across the state.