Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ebonyi State Government has dismissed allegations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is behind recent attacks on opposition members and journalists in the state, insisting that the party has "nothing to do with" the violence and suggesting that the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be responsible for the incidents. Commissioner for Special Duties, Valentine Okike-Uzo, made the clarification in separate interviews with Channels Television's The Morning Brief and TVC, where he also defended Governor Francis Nwifuru's administration and its performance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Okike-Uzo dismissed allegations that the APC was behind attacks on opposition supporters and journalists, saying the party had "nothing to do with attacks" in the state. He said Governor Nwifuru would not tolerate any of his appointees or supporters engaging in political violence. "APC has nothing to do with attacks in the state. Because if you do that, the person of the governor will not allow that person. He will relieve you of your duties," Okike-Uzo said. The commissioner, however, alleged that the opposition PDP, which has raised concerns over attacks during its activities, had internal divisions that could be responsible for some of the reported incidents. "A lot of people do not know that PDP has two parallel factions. They have it. Their internal mechanism is not in order. And it's possible that it's the other one that is attacking them," he said.
The allegations of political violence in Ebonyi State have been a subject of intense debate in recent weeks. On August 1, 2026, a political rally organised by a PDP chieftain, Barrister Ifeanyi Nworie, was disrupted by over 50 suspected thugs who stormed the venue, destroyed plastic chairs, canopies and other property, and attacked participants, including journalists. Nworie, a former PDP chairman who had defected to the APC after the 2023 general elections but recently returned to the PDP, alleged that the attackers were working for the APC. He also accused the Ebonyi State Police Command of failing to provide adequate security despite his request, claiming that officers watched helplessly as the attack unfolded.
However, the APC in Ebonyi State has consistently denied any involvement in the 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. "There is no time APC will have a hand in violence because you know that if you get into such act, the governor will abandon you," Emegha said. He added that the APC had no reason to engage in violence, noting that Governor Nwifuru's body language did not support such actions. The Ebonyi State Police Command also denied receiving any letter or petition from Nworie seeking security for the event, with the command's spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, stating that "no petition relating to any of the alleged attacks has been received by the Ebonyi Police Command."
Okike-Uzo also addressed concerns over rising political tension ahead of the 2027 elections, repeatedly describing the situation in the state as peaceful. He acknowledged that political parties were intensifying their activities through campaigns and grassroots mobilisation but rejected suggestions that the state was experiencing significant tension. "The atmosphere is peaceful. 100% peaceful," he said. Okike-Uzo attributed the relative calm to what he described as Governor Nwifuru's efforts to engage communities and resolve conflicts, noting that Ebonyi had experienced crises in the past but that the situation had improved significantly since Nwifuru assumed office.
The commissioner also maintained that opposition parties had a peaceful environment to campaign in Ebonyi but accused them of concentrating on attacking the government rather than mobilising voters at the grassroots. He said Governor Nwifuru welcomed criticism and had never ordered the arrest or harassment of individuals who criticised his administration, including critics on social media. "APC has nothing to do with attacks in the state. Because if you do that, the person of the governor will not allow that person," Okike-Uzo said.
On the 2027 elections, Okike-Uzo said the APC in Ebonyi had adopted a consensus arrangement to return Governor Nwifuru as its candidate. He defended the decision, saying it was based on the governor's performance and intended to reduce rancour within the party. "You cannot change your best players in the middle of the game," he said. The commissioner stressed, however, that consensus did not prevent other politicians from seeking elective office, describing the right to contest elections as a constitutional right. He said the arrangement was not applied to every position, noting that some offices were filled through competitive processes.
Okike-Uzo also clarified comments he made during his earlier Channels Television interview, which he said had been misconstrued as suggesting that Governor Nwifuru had outperformed all his predecessors, including former Governor Dave Umahi, in every aspect of governance. He said his point was that Nwifuru was the first governor to systematically continue and complete projects inherited from previous administrations.
The allegations and counter-allegations over political violence in Ebonyi State underscore the deepening political divisions as the 2027 general elections approach. While the government insists that the state remains peaceful, opposition parties continue to raise concerns about attacks and intimidation, raising questions about the safety of political activities in the state. The commissioner has called on the public to disregard claims that APC members attacked the opposition, describing them as misleading and possibly orchestrated. He said Governor Nwifuru is a man of peace and a true gentleman, and that his administration remains committed to maintaining a peaceful political environment.
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