The Forum of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Chairmen has accused the Ebonyi State Government of allegedly intimidating opposition members, citing reported attacks, abductions, killings, unlawful detention and destruction of property involving party leaders and supporters.
The forum expressed concern over what it described as an escalating pattern of political violence and restrictions on opposition activities in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a communiqué, the group called on Governor Francis Nwifuru, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Adviser and President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action to protect citizens and investigate the allegations.
The forum also urged the international community to monitor the situation and encourage accountability where human rights violations are established.
It maintained that political differences should not be used to justify violence or intimidation, stressing that no public officeholder or political party should be above the law.
Alleged Threats Against PDP Members
The forum alleged that the governor ordered the closure of the PDP state secretariat on May 25, 2026, claiming that more than 150 security personnel cordoned off the facility and prevented party officials from accessing their offices.
It further alleged that Nwifuru threatened on June 15 to deal harshly with PDP members perceived as threats to his re-election bid.
According to the communiqué, the governor also allegedly directed newly selected local government chairmen on September 1 to deal mercilessly with the opposition party in their respective areas.
The forum named the chairmen of Ohaukwu and Onicha local government areas, Paul Ituma and Ikechukwu Ogboffia, respectively, as officials who allegedly issued further warnings against PDP members.
The allegations have not been independently verified.
Reported Attacks, Abductions and Destruction of Property
The forum listed several incidents it said demonstrated the deteriorating political atmosphere in Ebonyi State.
It alleged that PDP members attending a rally at Ikwuator Idembia in Ezza South Local Government Area on August 1 were attacked, leaving 10 people critically injured. Vehicles belonging to party members and a vehicle conveying journalists were also reportedly damaged.
Three days later, the residence of a 73-year-old PDP leader, Chief Christopher Ngwuta, popularly known as Gbazuoagu, was allegedly attacked during a consultative meeting.
The communiqué claimed that his wife, Blessing Ngwuta, subsequently lost a four-month pregnancy following the trauma associated with the incident.
On August 16, Hon. Igboke Felix Ogbonna, the PDP candidate for Ohauivo Federal Constituency, and his aides were allegedly attacked while attending an August meeting organised by Catholic women at Christ the King Catholic Parish in Aba Omege.
The forum also accused individuals it identified as Uchenna Igwe and Ejike Omewa of leading an attack on the business premises of a PDP leader, Arinze Oyibe, in Abaomege on September 9.
According to the group, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed during the incident, while a pregnant woman was allegedly assaulted.
Another incident reportedly occurred on September 19 when armed men allegedly disrupted a PDP political and economic summit at Veneza Hotel in Abakaliki, injuring participants and stealing valuables.
The forum further alleged that Chinedu Onwe, a member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Service Commission, threatened PDP members in Abaomege against holding party meetings before allegedly leading a group of thugs to attack them on September 27.
The attackers were accused of using guns and other dangerous weapons to dispossess party members of their mobile phones and other belongings.
PDP Woman Leader Allegedly Detained, Youth Leader Abducted
The forum expressed particular concern over the reported arrest and continued detention of the PDP State Woman Leader, Chinyere Nwele.
According to the communiqué, Nwele was arrested by the Ebonyi State Police Command on October 15 under what the forum described as questionable circumstances. The group claimed she remained in detention at the time the statement was issued.
It also alleged that Jimo Guest House, owned by PDP youth leader Jimo Abu, was sealed by agents of the state government on October 20.
The forum claimed that Abu was abducted the following day and forced at gunpoint to renounce his membership of the PDP and publicly declare support for Governor Nwifuru.
The group also raised concerns over an alleged attack on security personnel at Amaezekwe village in Ezza South Local Government Area on October 22, reportedly involving youths it claimed were linked to the governor.
Additionally, it called for an investigation into the alleged abduction and killing of Elder Onwe Obochi of Oshege village in Ohaukwu Local Government Area following his reported attendance at a political meeting involving opposition members.
The forum said all the allegations required thorough and independent investigations, insisting that anyone found culpable should face the law regardless of political affiliation or official position.
Forum Questions Police Neutrality
The PDP chairmen also questioned the response of the Ebonyi State Police Command to complaints allegedly submitted over several of the reported incidents.
The forum claimed that some complaints had not received satisfactory attention and raised concerns about the alleged accommodation arrangement involving the state Commissioner of Police and Meritona Hotel in Abakaliki.
According to the communiqué, the commissioner had reportedly resided at the hotel, which the forum alleged was owned by Governor Nwifuru, since assuming office in Ebonyi State, despite the availability of official residential quarters for police commissioners.
The group stressed that the alleged arrangement did not, by itself, establish misconduct but argued that clarification was necessary to preserve public confidence in the independence of the police.
It also referred to a reported protest by members of the Ebonyi diaspora at the office of the Inspector-General of Police in Abuja over the conduct of the state police command.
The forum called for an impartial review of police actions, an assessment of possible conflicts of interest and adequate protection for victims, witnesses and threatened opposition members.
Allegations of Unequal Treatment of Political Parties
The communiqué also raised concerns over what the forum described as possible unequal treatment of political parties in Ebonyi State.
It alleged that the state government had granted the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) access to public spaces for political activities while allegedly restricting PDP gatherings and sealing venues used by its members.
The forum further alleged the existence of a discreet political understanding between the governor and the NDC aimed at securing support from the political camp associated with the party’s presidential candidate.
It also expressed concern that the alleged political arrangement could affect President Tinubu’s re-election prospects, particularly because the Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate, Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, had openly declared support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The group, however, acknowledged that political alliances were legitimate in a democracy, arguing that public authority should not be used to intimidate one political party while facilitating the activities of another.
It called for transparent rules governing access to public facilities and equal protection for all legally recognised political parties.
The political allegations and claims of unequal treatment have not been independently established.
PDP Chairmen List Demands
The forum outlined a series of demands directed at the Ebonyi State Government and federal authorities.
It called on Governor Nwifuru to publicly condemn political violence, clarify his alleged statements concerning the PDP and explain the legal basis for the reported closure of the party’s state secretariat and Jimo Guest House.
The group also urged the governor to cooperate with independent investigations and ensure that public officials did not obstruct lawful political activities.
Addressing the Inspector-General of Police, the forum demanded the establishment of an impartial investigative team to examine the reported attacks, threats, abductions, killing, armed robbery and destruction of property.
It specifically called for a review of Nwele’s reported detention, an investigation into Abu’s alleged abduction and confirmation of his safety and whereabouts.
The police were also urged to investigate the reported attack on security personnel, examine complaints relating to the closure of the PDP secretariat and guest house, and clarify the alleged accommodation arrangement involving the state police commissioner.
The forum called on the DSS to conduct an independent security assessment of the reported political threats and investigate credible information concerning the alleged coordination of politically motivated attacks.
It also urged the National Security Adviser to coordinate appropriate preventive measures and advise the Federal Government on steps to prevent political tensions from escalating before the 2027 elections.
President Tinubu was asked to ensure impartial investigations, protect citizens regardless of political affiliation and ensure that nobody was shielded from accountability because of political office or personal connections.
The forum further appealed to the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, diplomatic missions and international human rights organisations to monitor credible reports of political violence and restrictions on democratic freedoms in Ebonyi State.
It urged the international community to engage relevant stakeholders, encourage accountability where violations were established and consider lawful measures against individuals found responsible for serious human rights abuses.
‘Ebonyi Belongs to All Its People’
Concluding its communiqué, the forum described the reported incidents as serious enough to warrant urgent, transparent and impartial investigations.
It called for a political environment where disagreements could be resolved through dialogue, lawful political organisation and the ballot box rather than intimidation or violence.
The group reiterated that no political ambition was worth the loss of human life and that no citizen should have to choose between exercising democratic rights and remaining safe.
It also encouraged Odii to remain focused and undeterred in his political engagement with the people of Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to peace, justice, constitutional democracy and equal protection for all Nigerians.
The allegations contained in the communiqué require independent verification. Responses from Governor Nwifuru, the Ebonyi State Police Command and other parties mentioned were not included in the statement provided.
