The Ebonyi State Government has issued a clear warning to all political parties operating within the state to set up verifiable offices at the state, local government, and ward levels or risk being labelled as criminal entities.
Comrade Sunday Nwambam, Special Assistant to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru on Inter-Party Affairs, delivered the stern message during a strategic meeting with the state chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), held during the weekend in Abakaliki.
The meeting marked his sixth engagement with the council since his appointment on March 12, 2024.
Nwambam, addressing concerns over the proliferation of untraceable political groups in Ebonyi, said it is no longer acceptable for any party to exist only on paper or operate without a known location.
“A political party without a base — no state office, no LGA or ward structure has no legitimacy in Ebonyi.
“Henceforth, such formations will be treated as criminal gangs or terrorist groups. We will not tolerate political mercenaries parading as party leaders," Nwambam declared.
He described the lack of physical structures by some parties as a loophole that enables faceless actors to sponsor frivolous petitions, manipulate electoral outcomes, and derail democratic processes.
“How can you file a petition against an election when your party has no address or secretariat?” he asked. “Even the party constitutions mandate offices at all levels for transparency and public engagement," he revealed.
Nwambam also reaffirmed Governor Nwifuru’s inclusive approach to governance, citing the recent N1 million empowerment programme in which opposition parties participated fully.
He praised the governor for building a broad-based administration that values collaboration, even across political divides.
“It is because of the governor’s inclusive policies that Ebonyi appears to lack opposition,” he explained.
“The truth is, we do have strong opposition parties but they are cooperating with the government because it’s working in the people’s interest," he said.
He urged all political parties to maintain peace, avoid internal crises, and remain committed to supporting the state's development agenda.
While acknowledging that minor internal disagreements are natural in any democratic setting, he emphasized the need for discipline, unity, and a clear leadership structure within IPAC and across party lines.
“Even in families, there are disagreements, but responsible people resolve them quietly. So far, no formal petitions of crisis have been submitted to my office, and I believe IPAC remains stable,” he said.
Nwambam assured that the government will continue to support political parties with credible structures, urging them to uphold the standards required by both the Electoral Act and their own constitutions.
“The era of ghost political parties is over. If you want to operate in Ebonyi, you must be visible, accountable, and committed to peace,” he said.
Nwambam revealed his plan to embark tour to offices of all registered political parties in the state from next week, saying this renewed stance by the state government is expected to sanitize the political environment ahead of future elections and strengthen public trust in the multi-party democratic system.
