Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Unidentified hoodlums attacked the Imo State secretariats of the Young Progressives Party and the neighbouring All People's Party in the early hours of Sunday, July 19, 2026, destroying billboards and attempting to gain access to the premises. The incident occurred at the parties' secretariats located along Okigwe Road in Owerri at about 3:00 a.m., according to sources. The attackers fled after security personnel on duty raised an alarm, preventing them from entering the buildings. The development comes days after a reported attack on a meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Owerri Municipal, during which several persons were said to have been injured.
Reacting to the incident, the Imo State Chairman of the YPP, Michael Anyanwu, said he received a distress call from security guards informing him of the attack. According to him, unidentified men arrived in an unmarked Sienna vehicle, vandalised the party's signboards and attempted to force their way into the secretariat before fleeing. "This is not campaign signage; it is simply our party's identification. I wonder why we should be targeted. Are they trying to silence opposition parties in Imo State?" he asked. Anyanwu said the matter had been reported to the police, adding that the party would pursue the issue through lawful means. "We are a law-abiding party and we will not be intimidated," he said. Officials of the APP had yet to issue a statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Reacting to the development, the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress distanced itself from the incident, saying there were indications that the alleged attack could have been stage-managed. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the ruling party said it had no reason to intimidate opposition parties and remained committed to democratic principles. The APC stated that it believed political parties should canvass support through ideas, performance and lawful engagement rather than actions capable of causing public panic. The party also warned against any attempt to disrupt public peace under the guise of political activity, urging security agencies to investigate the incident and take appropriate action based on their findings.
The attack on the YPP and APP secretariats is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting opposition parties in Imo State. In July 2026, the African Democratic Congress condemned an alleged attack on members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress during a political meeting at Umuoyima Town Hall in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area. The ADC described the incident as a "barbaric attack" and warned against turning politics into violence. The Action Peoples Party also condemned the alleged invasion and disruption of the NDC town hall meeting, calling on security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
In January 2026, the APP decried the sustained destruction of its billboards, particularly in Ideato federal constituency, by suspected agents of the ruling party. The party described the culture of political intolerance, intimidation, and harassment as "wholly undemocratic, strongly condemnable, and unacceptable in any civilised society". The Ideato League of Patriots also accused the state government of deploying thugs to destroy party offices and billboards of the APP in Ideato federal constituency, describing the acts as a "grossly shameful depth of irresponsibility and executive recklessness".
The recurring violence against opposition parties in Imo State has raised concerns about political intolerance and the safety of democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections. Human rights groups have warned that Nigeria must not be allowed to slide into a state where political competition is settled through violence and intimidation rather than the ballot box. The Imo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the attack on the YPP and APP secretariats, and no arrests have been announced in connection with the incident. However, the APC's call for a security investigation reflects the growing concern over the use of political violence to suppress opposition voices in the state.
As the 2027 elections approach, the attacks on opposition parties in Imo State have become a troubling trend, with billboards destroyed, secretariats attacked, and political meetings disrupted. The ability of the government to ensure a level playing field for all political parties will be critical to the credibility of the electoral process and the health of Nigeria's democracy. For now, the YPP and APP are left to count the cost of the attack and demand justice, while the APC has distanced itself from the incident and called for a thorough investigation.
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