Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has dismissed reports that President Bola Tinubu has handed the political future of the state to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The governor spoke in Abakaliki during a stakeholders’ gathering organised by supporters backing his second-term ambition.
He said claims being circulated by some members of the opposition are false and should not be taken seriously.
According to Nwifuru, certain members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) linked to Wike have been moving around the state telling people that Ebonyi has already been secured for their political camp ahead of the next election cycle.
He maintained that Ebonyi cannot be controlled or handed over by any individual and insisted that the people of the state would decide their political future through the democratic process.
The governor said his administration and supporters were not intimidated by such statements and remained focused on strengthening the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Nwifuru also sent a warning to political actors he accused of trying to extend their influence beyond acceptable limits.
He urged them to avoid actions that could create unnecessary political tension in Ebonyi.
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!. Don’t push us.”
