Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has ordered the immediate removal of the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, from office. The directive was announced on Saturday, September 19, 2026, by the governor's chief press secretary, Monday Uzor, in a statement that offered no explanation for the sudden dismissal.
Official Statement and Handover Orders
The statement, as quoted by The Punch, read: "The governor of Ebonyi state, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, FCAI GGCEHF has directed the immediate removal from office the Honourable Commissioner for Works Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam."
Mbam has been directed to hand over all government property in his custody, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government. He is also required to transfer his duties to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works.
Second Disciplinary Action in Under a Year
This dismissal marks the second time Mbam has faced punitive action from the governor. In March 2026, Nwifuru placed him on an indefinite suspension alongside the Commissioner for Infrastructure Concession for Development, Ogbonnaya Abara, over alleged dereliction of duty. Both officials were later recalled in May 2026, though it was not immediately clear at the time which of the suspended commissioners had been reinstated.
With Saturday's announcement, Mbam's tenure as Works Commissioner has come to an abrupt end for the second time in less than a year, again without any publicly stated reason from the governor's office.
Governor's Commitment to Infrastructure
In the same statement, Governor Nwifuru reassured residents that his administration remained committed to delivering effective governance and improving public infrastructure across the state. However, no specific reasons were provided for Mbam's removal.
Context: Nwifuru's Warning to Council Chairmen
Meanwhile, in a related development, Governor Nwifuru recently warned newly sworn-in local government chairmen that any of them who fail to secure their council for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections will be removed from office. He delivered this warning during the swearing-in ceremony of 13 newly elected council chairmen and vice chairmen held at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, attended by APC National Assembly members, party leaders, and other stakeholders. The governor made clear that their positions came with a political obligation.
