Francis Nwifuru, governor of Ebonyi state, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu has ceded the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The governor spoke during a rally organised in Abakaliki to mobilise support for his re-election bid and President Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Nwifuru said reports suggesting that Tinubu had handed over Ebonyi to Wike and the PDP were baseless.
“I heard some people are saying that President Tinubu has given Ebonyi state to PDP for the 2027 governorship election, and their leader, Nyesom Wike, has also said that the president has given Ebonyi to him,” he said.
“We say to them, ‘eeyah’. Ebonyi is not for sale. We are not afraid.”
The governor also accused some PDP members in the state of spreading claims that Wike had assured them of victory in the next governorship election.
“Wike’s boys in the PDP are going around claiming that Wike assured them that he has given Ebonyi state to them,” he said.
“We say to them, ‘eeyah’.”
‘Eeyah’ is a Nigerian pidgin expression often used to mock or dismiss a claim, roughly translating to “what a pity”.
Nwifuru warned political opponents against actions capable of destabilising the state.
“Don’t push us,” he said.
The APC governor used the occasion to reaffirm his support for President Tinubu and rally party members ahead of future elections.
He also highlighted ongoing infrastructure and development projects being executed by his administration, as well as federal government initiatives affecting the south-east region.
The rally was attended by party supporters, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, who expressed support for both Nwifuru and Tinubu.
