Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has commended the peaceful conduct of the local government and councillorship elections held across the state’s 13 local government areas and 171 wards.
Nwifuru spoke after casting his vote at his Edukwu Okemini 002 polling unit in Oferekpe Agbaja, Izzi Local Government Area.
The governor also praised the large turnout of voters, describing the participation as a positive sign of citizens’ interest in the electoral process.
He said candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged through what he described as a transparent and credible process, expressing optimism that they would secure victory at the polls.
Nwifuru, however, called for competitive elections, saying political contests should provide voters with the opportunity to choose the best candidates and allow opposition parties to contribute to better governance.
According to him, elections should not be treated as a war but as a democratic process through which citizens freely select their leaders.
“It is the will of the people. You don’t need security when people are choosing candidates in an election. I did not select the candidates; it is the people who selected them, while the political parties also selected their candidates.”
The governor said political opponents were necessary in a democracy because they could identify areas where a government needed to improve.
He noted that competition should go beyond winning elections, stressing that opponents could also expose shortcomings and offer alternative perspectives on governance.
Nwifuru maintained that although he remained confident in the strength of the APC in Ebonyi State, he welcomed credible opponents who could provide meaningful competition.
“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,” he said.
The governor reaffirmed his support for the APC candidates, saying he remained committed to the party and believed its candidates were capable of winning the positions they contested.
He urged voters to continue exercising their democratic rights peacefully as the electoral process progressed across the state.
