APC Will Win Ebonyi LG Elections, Says Nwifuru
By Alex Odeh, Pan Afric Reporters
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has described the ongoing local government elections in the state as a peaceful democratic exercise, saying there was no need to treat the process as a war.
Nwifuru spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote his Edupfu Okemini 002 polling unit, Enyanwuigwe Ward, Oferekpe Agbaja, Izzi LGA during the local government elections on Saturday.
The governor said the election was about allowing the people to freely choose their leaders, stressing that neither he nor any individual should determine the candidates for the electorate.
“It is the will of the people. You don’t need security when people are choosing candidates in an election,” he said.
“I did not select the candidates; it is the people who selected them, while the political parties also selected their candidates.
“The process is ongoing. It is not a war; it is an election. That is why I believe we don’t need to stress ourselves over voting for a candidate of our choice to become our leader.”
Nwifuru said the essence of the exercise was to provide the people with the opportunity to select those they wanted to govern them at the grassroots.
He expressed confidence in the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he wished the party victory in the elections.
“Whether or not our party will win the election, my wish is for our party to win. I am a party man, and I believe in my party and all its candidates,” he said.
The governor, however, said political competition was important to good governance, noting that opponents could help those in government identify their weaknesses and areas requiring improvement.
According to him, although he considers himself to have no opponent as the leader of the APC in the state, he expects other political parties to field credible candidates capable of challenging his party.
“When you have opponents, it is not only about competition. They can also show you things you don’t know. Sometimes, you need opponents because they can expose your shortcomings and areas where you need to improve,” Nwifuru said.
He also dismissed the idea of securing endorsements from political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying what mattered to him was the endorsement of the people of Ebonyi State.
“I don’t want political parties to endorse me. What I want is for the people of Ebonyi to endorse me. That has always been my position. I have been appealing to the people to endorse me, not political parties,” he said.
Nwifuru also cautioned against judging people based on their physical appearance or dressing, saying people could have different mindsets that were not necessarily reflected in what they wore
