The Enugu State chapter of Nigeria's opposition party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has petitioned several authorities, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), INTERPOL, and the United Nations (UN), over alleged political violence in the state. The petition, dated September 14, 2026, calls for an independent investigation into an alleged armed attack on a ward meeting in Obuoffia, Nkanu West Local Government Area. The incident reportedly resulted in injuries to several local leaders and community members.
According to the NDC, the alleged attack occurred during a peaceful ward meeting in Obuoffia, the home ward of its governorship candidate, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa. The party claimed that the incident was a calculated, armed strike against democratic engagement, community sovereignty, and the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. The NDC identified several individuals injured in the attack, including its Ward Chairman, Madueke Ngene, and Youth Leader, Maduka Ngene.
The NDC alleged that the attack was led by Odogwu, a Senior Special Assistant to the Nkanu West Local Government Chairman, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo. The party called on security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether the individuals named or anyone else were responsible. The NDC also alleged that the incident was part of a broader pattern of disruption of opposition political activities in parts of the state.
The party cited alleged armed disruptions of PDP ward gatherings in Akpugo and Obe as evidence of an emerging pattern of political intimidation. The NDC said political disagreements should be resolved through democratic engagement rather than violence. The party also made allegations concerning the conduct of the Nkanu West Local Government Chairman, claiming that he went to the airport to welcome suspects and took photographs with them after a primary suspect was questioned by security operatives.
The NDC described the alleged action as a public display of solidarity with violence and called for the circumstances surrounding the claim to be investigated. The party urged the Inspector-General of Police, the DSS, and INTERPOL to conduct an immediate, independent probe into the alleged attack. It called for anyone found responsible for the violence, including alleged sponsors or backers, to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The NDC also appealed to international bodies, including the United States Embassy, British High Commission, European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, Commonwealth Secretariat, and United Nations human-rights authorities, to monitor the situation. The party requested visa restrictions, travel bans, and other measures against individuals who may be found to have been involved in political violence.
The NDC's governorship candidate, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, who is currently abroad on an official trip, reaffirmed his commitment to democratic participation despite the alleged attack. The party's State Secretary, Nebo Chukwujekwu Emmanuel, warned against the escalation of political violence, stating that no individual or political faction has a monopoly of violence.
Key points
- The NDC petitions authorities over alleged political violence in Enugu state.
- The party calls for an independent investigation into the alleged armed attack on a ward meeting.
- The NDC urges international bodies to monitor the situation and impose measures against those involved in political violence.
