Ebonyi Governor rejects claims that President Tinubu promised the state to the FCT Minister.
Opposition PDP splits into factions over Governor’s fierce rhetoric.
Governor Francis Nwifuru launched a scathing verbal attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, warning him and his allies to stay away from the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Saturday, June 15, during a high-profile APC stakeholders’ rally in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Governor Nwifuru vehemently rejected claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had “handed over” the political structure of Ebonyi State to Mr. Wike.
The Governor’s outburst was triggered by alleged rumors being circulated by local allies of the FCT Minister, suggesting that the presidency had agreed to cede the state to Wike’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next election cycle.
‘Ebonyi is Not for Sale’
Addressing a charged crowd of party supporters, Governor Nwifuru, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), did not mince words as he declared his administration’s readiness to violently resist any external political invasion.
“Nobody should push us because we have all it takes to consume whoever is trying us; we have all it takes to destroy whoever is trying us.”
“Some people are going around saying that they discussed with President Tinubu and that the president has given Ebonyi to the PDP. They said Nyesom Wike is their leader and that Wike said the president has given Ebonyi to him. And we say to them, *‘Eeyaah!’* (what a pity),” Nwifuru mocked.
He continued: “Now, I want to sound this way as your governor: We are not afraid. We only hold ourselves because our people are with us. We are sending a message to them directly or indirectly that we are members of the All… Congress and that is where Ebonyi people belong. Whoever is trying our resolve, the outcome will be very funny for him.”
The Governor was flanked at the rally by the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as well as Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo—the latter’s presence raising eyebrows given his membership in the All Grand Alliance (APGA).
The Wike Conundrum
Mr. Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, occupies a unique position in Nigeria’s current political landscape. While officially remaining a member of the PDP, he serves as a minister in President Tinubu’s APC-led cabinet and has openly declared his support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
This dual alignment has created friction within both the APC and PDP factions across several states, with Ebonyi now becoming the latest battleground.
PDP Factions Clash Over Governor’s Threats
Governor Nwifuru’s remarks have triggered a sharp division within the leadership of the PDP, with two distinct factions issuing conflicting statements.
Faction A: ‘Reckless and Desperate’
The PDP faction chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed—which is officially recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—slammed Nwifuru, describing his comments as “reckless, inflammatory, and a sign of desperation.”
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, factional spokesperson Jungudo Mohammed warned that the 2027 election would be decided by performance, not intimidation.
“These unfortunate statements clearly expose a governor who is increasingly troubled by the prospect of his rejection by the people of Ebonyi State in 2027,” Mohammed said.
He challenged the governor to prepare for a clean contest against the faction’s candidate, Ifeanyi Odii. “If the governor truly wishes to ‘consume’ the people, let him do so through visible developmental projects, not threats.”
#### Faction B: ‘Wike Deserves the Rebuke’
In a contrasting development, a rival faction of the PDP, chaired by Kabiru Turaki, praised Governor Nwifuru for standing up to the FCT Minister.
The faction’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, released a statement defending the Governor’s outburst, arguing that Nwifuru was justified in calling out Wike’s “meddlesomeness.”
“We are certain that Governor Nwifuru is conscious of the ignoble role Wike, then as the governor of Rivers State, played in pushing his predecessor [Dave Umahi] out of the PDP,” Ememobong stated.
The Turaki-led faction reaffirmed that Alexander Eze remains their recognized governorship candidate for Ebonyi State.
As of the time of filing this report, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has not issued an official response to the Governor’s comments.
