The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Youth Leader in Ebonyi State, Francis Okechukwu, has condemned Governor Francis Nwifuru’s threat to remove newly elected local government chairmen who fail to deliver their respective councils to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in future elections.
Governor Nwifuru had, while inaugurating the newly elected council chairmen, warned that any chairman who failed to deliver his local government area to the APC during elections would be removed.
Reacting to the statement in Abakaliki, Okechukwu described the governor’s position as undemocratic and contrary to the constitutional principles governing local government administration and democratic participation.
The PDP youth leader said political office holders should operate within the Constitution and respect citizens’ rights to associate with political parties, campaign and vote according to their conscience.
He called on PDP youths across the 13 local government areas of the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding while resisting what he described as attempts to suppress legitimate political activities.
Okechukwu said the party would not resort to violence but would defend its democratic rights through lawful means.
He also reminded the governor of his constitutional responsibilities as the chief security officer and highest elected official in the state, saying the office requires the protection of citizens irrespective of political affiliation.
According to him, using elected local government chairmen as instruments of political persecution would undermine democratic principles and public confidence in governance.
The PDP youth leader warned that any attempt to use the council chairmen to suppress opposition activities would be challenged through lawful channels, including the courts, electoral authorities and relevant security agencies.
He also appealed to civil society organisations, traditional institutions, the media and other stakeholders to pay attention to political developments in the state and support the protection of democratic rights.
The Ebonyi State Government and the APC had not, at the time of the statement, responded to the PDP youth leader’s allegations.
