…Command Says Stakeholders Agreed to “Tone Down” Rhetoric After Stakeholders’ Meeting
The Nigeria Police Force has finally reacted to threats issued against opposition politicians by Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Paul Ituma, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Joshua Ukandu, confirmed that a stakeholders’ meeting was convened on September 9, 2026, at the state police headquarters in Abakaliki, presided over by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Dennis Anyai.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the meeting followed Governor Nwifuru’s remarks during the inauguration of newly elected local government chairmen on September 1, where he warned that any chairman who failed to deliver his council to the APC in 2027 would be removed. He also directed them to “deal with that person mercilessly” if anyone attempted to disrupt APC control.
Ituma, apparently taking a cue from the governor, subsequently warned opposition politicians to stay away from Ohaukwu or be declared persona non grata. “Anybody who is fighting the governor of Ebonyi State is my enemy from today,” he declared.
The police spokesperson told Premium Times that during the stakeholders’ meeting, which was attended by representatives of all political parties in Ohaukwu, former Governor Sam Egwu, Ituma, and the Deputy Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chinedu Onah, “they all agreed because it was everybody from different political spectrums within that area” to tone down their rhetoric.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Hope Urunwa Okafor, had earlier condemned the threats during a press briefing on September 3, warning that the command would deal appropriately with any hate speech or inciting comments, despite a peace accord signed by political parties.
The PDP in Ebonyi had demanded that Governor Nwifuru retract his remarks, apologise, or resign, describing his comments as capable of stoking political violence.
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