PDP chieftain urges Ebonyi police to protect opposition

By Anayo Okoli

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Barrister Ifeanyi Nworie, has called on the state police command to protect opposition parties, their members and journalists covering their activities.

Nworie, a former PDP chairman in the state, made the call while condemning the alleged attack on PDP members and journalists during a political event at Ikwuator village, Idemba community, in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.

The Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had also raised concerns over the alleged attack on its members.

Nworie, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) shortly after the 2023 general elections, returned to the PDP last week at a political rally held at his compound in Ikwuator village.

He alleged that more than 50 suspected thugs invaded the venue, disrupted the event and attacked participants, including journalists.

He also alleged that the attackers destroyed plastic chairs, canopies and other property at the venue.

Nworie accused the ruling APC in the state of being behind the disruption, but the party denied the allegation.

The PDP chieftain also accused the Ebonyi State Police Command of failing to provide adequate security at the event, alleging that some policemen watched as the suspected thugs invaded the venue and attacked participants.

He said the situation was particularly worrisome because he had allegedly notified the police command of the event and requested adequate security.

“The police watched as the thugs stormed the venue and attacked me, beat my supporters and disrupted the rally,” he alleged.

“Instead of the police that I wrote to and notified of the event to provide security for me and other PDP members, they could provide the needed security. But they stood and idled around while we were attacked,” he added.

A letter dated July 31, 2026, sighted by Vanguard, showed that Nworie had written to the police requesting security for the event scheduled for August 1.

In the letter, Nworie identified himself as a former chairman of the PDP in Ebonyi State and said he had decided to return to the party after previously leaving it following the 2023 general elections.

He also said he had received threats to his life, his supporters and party officials expected to attend the event, prompting his request for adequate security.

Nworie wrote: “Due to this, I have received a chain of threats to my personal life, my loyalists going with me as well as our national and state officers, including very important persons coming from far and near.

“It is against this background that I passionately applied for adequate security coverage/personnel from your good office to avoid the breakdown of law and order from those threatening me and this programme. I am a law-abiding citizen, sir.”

However, the Ebonyi State Police Command denied receiving any letter or petition from the PDP seeking security for the event.

In a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, the police said no petition relating to the alleged attacks had been received.

“The command wishes to state unequivocally that no petition relating to any of the alleged attacks has been received by the Ebonyi Police Command,” Ukandu said.

The APC in the state also denied involvement in the alleged attack.

The state chairman of the party, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, said individuals who might have been uncomfortable with Nworie’s political activities could have been responsible for the incident.

He said the APC had no reason to engage in violence, adding that party members were expected to follow the example of Governor Francis Nwifuru.

“So far, as it has to do with APC in Ebonyi State, we watch the body language of our governor; he doesn’t want to offend anyone. As such, we must toe his path.

“There is no time APC will have a hand in violence because you know that if you get into such an act, the governor will abandon you,” Emegha said.

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