By Isaac Mission
Concerns have been raised over Governor Francis Nwifuru’s alleged directive to local government chairmen in Ebonyi State to ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their respective councils during the 2027 elections or risk losing their positions.
The issue was highlighted in a recent commentary by Muazu Elazeh, who questioned the implications of the governor’s remarks for democratic governance and local government independence.
Nwifuru reportedly issued the warning while addressing newly sworn-in council chairmen, telling them that those who failed to deliver their local government areas to the APC could be removed from office.
The governor was quoted as telling the chairmen that they would not be allowed to prevent the party from winning and that those who failed to secure victory could be replaced.
Elazeh argued that such a directive could undermine the principles of free and credible elections, particularly because local government chairmen could feel compelled to use their positions to secure political victories for the ruling party.
Concerns Over Local Government Autonomy
The columnist also linked the controversy to the broader debate surrounding the independence of local governments in Nigeria.
He noted that although local governments constitute a distinct tier of government, governors continue to exercise significant influence over councils, including through control of finances and the state electoral machinery.
According to him, the dependence of local government chairmen on governors makes it difficult for them to resist political directives, particularly when their continued stay in office is allegedly tied to electoral performance.
Elazeh argued that genuine democratic governance requires citizens to have the freedom to choose their preferred candidates without intimidation or undue political pressure.
He therefore called for stronger institutional safeguards to prevent executive overreach and ensure that elected council officials can operate independently.
State Police Debate
The controversy also prompted the columnist to revisit the debate over the establishment of state police.
Elazeh expressed concern that giving governors greater control over security structures could create additional opportunities for political interference.
He questioned what protections ordinary citizens would have if state security institutions were placed under the influence of political authorities who might use them against opponents or people who refuse to support the ruling party.
According to him, the concerns surrounding state police make it necessary to establish strong constitutional and institutional safeguards before any such arrangement is implemented.
Call for Stronger Institutions
The columnist maintained that the issue extends beyond Ebonyi State or the 2027 elections, arguing that Nigeria needs stronger checks and balances across its democratic institutions.
He called on the judiciary, legislature, civil society organisations and the media to play stronger roles in scrutinising executive actions and protecting democratic principles.
Elazeh also advocated for the effective implementation of local government autonomy, arguing that council chairmen should not operate as though they were personal appointees of state governors.
He concluded that stronger institutional checks were necessary to protect democratic processes and prevent excessive concentration of political power.
Ortom’s 23 Vehicles Controversy
In another section of the column, Elazeh criticised former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom over reports concerning 23 government vehicles he allegedly took after leaving office.
The columnist questioned the justification for a former governor leaving office with such a large number of state-owned vehicles and criticised Ortom for challenging the subsequent confiscation of the vehicles in court.
Elazeh also expressed concern over the reported court decision in the matter, arguing that public officials should be held to higher standards when dealing with government property after leaving office.