Leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ebonyi State chapter, has condemned the attack on former All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Barrister Ifeanyi Nworie, who left the ruling party.  

The incident took place at ldembia, in Ezza south local government Area of Ebonyi State on Saturday.

The opposition party also condemned the alleged attacks on Nwori’s supporters and journalists by agents and appointees of the APC-led Ebonyi State Government.

The party said that in the last few weeks, supporters and members of the PDP have faced threats from the same agents of the Ebonyi State Government ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party stated that the thugs were led by a former member of the House of Representatives, senior officials of the Ebonyi State Government, including ex-PDP Ezza south LG chairman and others.

Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki on Saturday night, the PDP state chairman, Chukwuma lgwe, alleged that vehicles were damaged and several people assaulted with dangerous weapons, adding that eight persons are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. 

According to lgwe, “we called this press conference to draw the attention of Nigerians to the undemocratic action deliberately orchestrated to undermine the conduct of the 2027 general elections in Ebonyi State.”

He called on all security agencies to uphold their constitutional responsibility of protecting all Nigerians and ensuring that every citizen of Ebonyi State is free to exercise their civic responsibilities in accordance with the constitution, including the rights to freedom of association and political participation.

“We state unequivocally that the PDP in Ebonyi State will not be intimidated by undemocratic forces, irrespective of who may be behind them.

“As political activities commence in the coming days, we urge our members to remain peaceful and law-abiding. We also call on the Ebonyi State Government to play by the rules of democracy, bearing in mind that no one has a monopoly of violence or misconduct.

“We further urge all security agencies to remain impartial in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities, in the interest of democracy and justice.

“We specifically call on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Armed Forces, and all other relevant security agencies to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and political activities throughout Ebonyi State.

“Ebonyi State belongs to all Ebonyians, and every eligible citizen has the constitutional right to freely express his or her political preference without fear of intimidation, harassment, or molestation.

“Today, we state clearly that the PDP in Ebonyi State is prepared to pursue every constitutional and lawful means to ensure that the rights and safety of our members are protected.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said Cardinal John Onaiyekan was speaking for Catholics and not the entire Christian community in his comments on the state of the nation.

Bwala stated this in a post on his X handle while reacting to the controversy surrounding Onaiyekan’s television interview after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria’s meeting with President Tinubu.

The presidential aide alleged that the Catholic institution had shown support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, during the 2023 general election, arguing that the Cardinal’s comments should be viewed from that perspective.

“Cardinal Onaiyekan wasn’t speaking for Christians; he was speaking for Catholics, the very institution rooting for Peter Obi. In fact, likely the institution where Peter Obi also said in 2022, ‘Take back your country.’ Therefore, Cardinal is more political than spiritual,” Bwala stated.

He added that not all Catholic faithful support Obi, stressing that the views expressed by the Cardinal did not represent the position of every member of the church.

Bwala defended President Tinubu’s response to the bishops’ assessment of the country’s economic situation, saying the President was entitled to disagree based on available facts, statistics and data.

“The President was well within his right to disagree with their assertion as regards Nigeria’s economy based purely on facts, statistics and numbers put into context,” he said.

The presidential aide also criticised what he described as a contradiction in some religious teachings, saying some clerics encourage members to maintain a positive outlook despite personal challenges.

He argued that there is a broader Christian body comprising different denominations, including Catholics, whose position remains neutral and should not be turned into a political platform.

“There is a body comprising all Christians, including the Catholics and Catholic Bishops Conference, and that body’s position is neutral and should be so; otherwise, it is political,” Bwala added.

Leaders of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, have welcomed the confirmation of Prince Adewole Adebayo as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The party described the development as a significant milestone ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following INEC’s publication of the final list of presidential candidates, and expressed confidence in its chances at the polls.

In a statement, the Chairman of the SDP in Delta State, Felix Obuseh, said the publication of Adebayo’s name by INEC had boosted the confidence of party members and supporters across the country.

Obuseh said the party would continue mobilising support for its presidential candidate ahead of the election.

Also reacting, the Chairman of the SDP in Zamfara State, Bilal Aliyu Gusau, congratulated Adebayo on his confirmation by INEC and wished him a successful campaign.

Similarly, Cotterell Tumbodiaa described the confirmation of Adebayo and his running mate as an important step in the party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

He expressed hope that the SDP would offer Nigerians a credible alternative and wished the party’s presidential candidate success in the campaign.

The reactions followed INEC’s publication of the names of candidates cleared to contest the 2027 presidential election, including Adebayo as the SDP flag bearer.