The Ebonyi State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has raised concerns over alleged plans to target his running mate, Patrick Mgbebu. Odii chose Mgbebu, the immediate past representative of Ebonyi State in the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Committee (RMFAC) and a former member of the state House of Assembly, as his running mate for the 8 February 2027 gubernatorial election.
Mgbebu's selection was based on his sound credentials, as recommended by Ebonyi PDP stakeholders. This move was in line with Governor Francis Nwifuru's assurance to the Ezza clan, from which the PDP governorship running mate hails, that his successor would be from the clan. However, Nwifuru had earlier rejected suggestions to renew Mgbebu's appointment at the RMFAC.
According to Odii's spokesman, Emmanuel Igwe, some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly held a nocturnal meeting in Abakaliki, where plans were hatched to target Mgbebu. The conspirators planned to attack Mgbebu immediately he returns to Abakaliki from Abuja and subsequently frame the incident as an internal disagreement within the PDP governorship campaign organisation.
The PDP governorship candidate stated that he is particularly concerned that political disagreements could degenerate into actions capable of endangering lives or undermining the democratic process. Odii emphasized that politics should be about ideas, programmes, records, and the presentation of manifestos to the electorate.
Odii called on the security agencies to take the reported allegations seriously, investigate their origin, and establish whether any individual or group is planning violence against members of the PDP campaign or any other political organisation. He also urged that the allegations be thoroughly investigated and that the safety of Barr Mgbebu, members of the campaign council, supporters, and all political actors in Ebonyi State be protected.
The PDP governorship candidate tasked all political parties, governorship as well as other candidates, supporters, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, and security agencies to work together to ensure a peaceful election. Odii stated that the people of Ebonyi State deserve an election conducted in an atmosphere of peace, freedom, and security.
Odii, a committed democrat, believes in the supremacy of the ballot box and will continue to pursue his political ambition through constitutional and democratic means. He vowed that the hard-won democratic freedoms of Nigerians would not be undermined by political violence, and Ebonyi State must not return to the era when political disagreements were settled through intimidation, violence, or political killings.
Key points
- Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii alerts security agencies to alleged plans to target his running mate, Patrick Mgbebu.
- The alleged plot was hatched by some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a nocturnal meeting in Abakaliki.
- Odii calls for a peaceful election and urges security agencies to investigate the allegations and protect the safety of all political actors in Ebonyi State.
