…Governor rejects claims
…as Both Parties Hold Major Political Events simultaneously
Kenneth Udeh, Enugu
Tensions flared in Enugu on Saturday after hoodlums attacked the venue of an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Opi, destroying canopies, chairs, and sound equipment before the event began.
While the APC accused the PDP-led state government of orchestrating the violence, government officials dismissed the allegation as “pure blackmail.”
The rally, organised to welcome defectors from the PDP, Labour Party, APGA, ADC, and YPP into the APC, was headlined by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, alongside key party stakeholders from across the state and Abuja.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers, some with their faces covered, stormed the Opi rally ground wielding dangerous weapons, including pump-action guns. Canopies, chairs, the stage, and musical instruments were torn down or smashed.
APC Accuses PDP of Orchestrating Attack
Videos circulating on social media, obtained by the SUN, showed men with covered faces wielding matchets destroying canopies, chairs, and musical instruments.
Hon. Dr. Cosmo Agbo, an APC stakeholder, alleged that the hoodlums were members of the state-backed Neighbourhood Watch or Forest Guards.
APC member Ifeanyi Eze Ifeanyi called the incident “a return to the era of political thuggery,” claiming it occurred in the presence of the Nigerian Police.
Despite the disruption, security operatives restored order, and the rally went ahead, albeit without the earlier arrangements.
PDP’s programme featured Governor Peter Mbah, top state officials, and party faithful in the flag-off of the 5,000-capacity Nsukka International Market and commissioning of the 1.76 km GRA–Prisons–Stadium Ring Road.
APC’s rally at St. Charles Catholic Church field, Opi, was billed to welcome over 1,000 defectors from PDP, Labour Party, APGA, ADP, and YPP into its fold.
APC Accuses PDP-Led Government orchestrated Violence
Barr. Peter Okonkwo, a former Commissioner for Housing, told the crowd; “The state government militia attacked this gathering here three times today. They destroyed properties worth millions, assaulted people, wounded people, and even tore the President’s posters. The more they attack us, the more we go for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Federal lawmaker Hon. Chimobi Atu alleged that the incident was part of “a wider pattern of political intimidation,” noting similar disruptions of APC events in Udi and Igbo-Eze North in the past.
Another APC chieftain, Mazi Ezenwa Onyirimba, called the incident “a disgraceful throwback to the political thuggery of the early 2000s.”
The National Director of the Youth and Student Council of the APC, condemned the pre-rally violence describing it as “disgraceful” and “an embarrassment to the peace-loving people of Enugu State.”
“What happened was shameful and unexpected in this democratic era. Many of us thought such politically motivated violence was a thing of the past, confined to the 1999 and early 2000s. It is unfortunate that some people still do not understand how politics should be played,” Onyirimba said.
Onyirimba who chairs the South East Youths Stakeholders Forum (SEYSF), Mazi Ezenwa Onyirimba explained that although the APC rally eventually held, hoodlums allegedly linked to the Enugu State Government and the PDP attacked the venue shortly before its commencement.
According to him, the attack was aimed at disrupting the APC’s programme, which was organised to receive prominent defectors from the Labour Party and PDP.
“The same day, the Governor of Enugu State was in Nsukka to commission a project. Some overzealous individuals and government officials felt the Governor’s visit could not coincide with an APC rally in the same local government. In their bid to show loyalty and capacity to the Governor, they attempted to sabotage our event,” he alleged.
Onyirimba commended the swift intervention of security agencies, crediting their professionalism for preventing the incident from escalating. He also praised the APC leader in Enugu State, Barr. Uche Nnaji, for maintaining a law-abiding stance and avoiding any retaliatory chaos.
PDP’S State led Government Denies Allegations
Reacting to the allegation, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Nnamani Arinze Darlington, dismissed the APC’s claims as “baseless blackmail,” insisting that Governor Peter Mbah’s administration does not engage in or tolerate political thuggery.
Speaking to the SUN via telephone he said; “The so-called violence was staged by the APC themselves. I heard that when they arrived at the campaign ground, they were not even up to 20 people, so they pulled that stunt. The Government of Governor Peter Mbah does not tolerate thuggery. He is far too busy to indulge in such pedestrian politics,” Darlington said.
He further described the allegation as “a desperate attempt by the APC to mislead their supporters,” noting that the Governor remains focused on governance and development.
“Nothing of such happened. Why would a Governor who is firmly in charge destroy his own state? The APC is blackmailing themselves. They claimed people were attacked so, who exactly was injured? We are in a country where some people even kidnap themselves to extort money from family members; desperate politicians can do anything,” he stated.
Darlington accused the APC, led by a serving Minister, of deliberately trying to create false narratives to cover up their poor turnout.
“Governor Mbah is busy attracting investors and overseeing over 2,000 ongoing projects across the three senatorial zones. He doesn’t have time for petty politics that has no place in his political dictionary. The police are on top of the situation and ensuring law and order is maintained,” he concluded.
No Automatic Tickets Minister Nnaji Declares
Despite the disruption, Minister Nnaji arrived and addressed the gathering, praising the resilience of Nsukka supporters;
“We are not afraid of anybody. If they like, let them come here 10 times, it will not deter us… It is on the mandate of the President that we have been able to bring employment, infrastructure, and other benefits to Enugu State.”
In his address, Minister Uche Nnaji warned that new entrants into the APC would not receive automatic tickets for the 2027 governorship race or any elective positions.
“Anybody that wants to run for governor of Enugu State, let him come to the APC we will contest. Even if the President of Nigeria wants to run, he must go through primaries,” Nnaji declared.
The minister accused some “politically displaced politicians” of trying to hijack the party from “the back door,” vowing such moves would be resisted.
Three recently defected federal lawmakers Hon. Sunday Umeha (Udi/Ezeagu), Hon. Chimobi Atu (Enugu North/Enugu South), and Hon. Prof. Paul Nnamchi pledged total commitment to winning all elective positions for the APC in 2027.
The APC state chairman, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah, handed brooms the party’s symbol to the new members, declaring the event a success despite the violence.
Governor Mbah’s Nsukka Engagements
While the APC rally unfolded, Governor Peter Mbah was at the Nsukka township flagging off the construction of the 5,000-capacity International Market and commissioning the GRA–Prisons–Stadium Ring Road, reconstructed by Nsukka LGA Chairman, Engr. Jude Asogwa.
Mbah said the market project, scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, was part of a state-wide modern transport terminal initiative:
“Our intention to construct the Nsukka Modern Transport Terminal is in the overriding public interest…Those displaced from the Ogige Market redevelopment will be given priority in shop allocation.”
Attendees included Federal House of Representatives member for Igbo-Eze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency, Mark Chidi Obetta; Nsukka East House of Assembly member, Hon. Pius Onyeka Ezugwu; Nsukka West member, Hon. Onyechi Malachi Okey; PDP Chairman, Nsukka LGA, Chris Emeka Ezema; and other state and local government executives.
Speakers, including Commissioner for Health Prof. George Ugwu and PDP Zonal Woman Leader Mrs. Ngozi Ezeja, commended the governor for his developmental projects across Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
Governor Mbah assured traders displaced by the redevelopment of Ogige Market that they would receive priority shop allocations in the new market, targeted for completion by the end of 2025. He insisted the transport terminal projects, including the one in Nsukka, were in the overriding public interest.
The LGA chairman described the market as “a world-class commercial hub” that would create jobs, boost trade, and transform the economy of Nsukka and Enugu North Zone.
Police were reported to have restored calm at Opi after the initial disruption, allowing the APC event to proceed albeit without the destroyed canopies and stage. There was no official police statement at press time.
While both rallies ultimately went ahead, the incident at Opi underscores the heightened political rivalry between Enugu’s ruling PDP and opposition APC. With accusations and counter-accusations flying, and with 2027 in view, the battle for political dominance in the state appears set to intensify.
