The government of Enugu State, Sunday, alleged that opposition elements in the state are planning to import armed thugs into the state to create panic among the citizenry and insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This was disclosed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia, during a press conference at the Government House, Enugu.
Onyia debunked claims linking the state government to violent incidents on Saturday during separate events organized by the state chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport as well as the party’s state secretariat in Enugu.
According to him, the state government’s findings showed that the airport incident was a dispute between the NDC and federal authorities after the party attempted to hold a statewide campaign flag-off at the facility without obtaining approvals from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Onyia said NDC, Enugu State chapter, had published notices inviting supporters and members of the public to its “Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026” at the airport. According to him, the police had advised the party to obtain FAAN’s approval before security personnel could be deployed to the airport for the event, but the party allegedly proceeded without securing the required authorisation.
Quoting him, “Further findings, however, revealed that the NDC did not secure the approval of FAAN to host a grand statewide rally at its facility. Security agencies, therefore, advised the organisers of the rally to rethink it.”
NDC mobilised its members to the airport, where an attempt to gain entry into the facility allegedly resulted in a confrontation with airport authorities, he said.
“This resulted in the intervention of security agencies, which dispersed the riotous party members to restore law and order within the vicinity of the highly strategic national asset,” he said, adding that, “The state government’s findings were consistent with the statement issued by the Enugu State Police Command.”
He also countered alleged deaths recorded at NDC’s office on Saturday. He explained that a 43-year-old man, identified as Ifeanyi Nworie, sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, where he was stabilised before being transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, for further medical attention.
“We can, therefore, authoritatively report that there were no deaths as falsely claimed by some reports and NDC leaders,” he said, and questioned claims that the governor’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) was present at the NDC secretariat and supervised the shooting.
He said, “Is it not also mischief to falsely claim that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor was present and supervised shooting at the Enugu NDC secretariat whereas he was, to the glare of all, with the governor at the Teachers Grassroots Movement mega rally at Okpara Square, Enugu, at the same time?”
The SSG claimed that the opposition was trying exploit the incident for political advantage. “Is it not equally gross mischief and a sign of political desperation to hold a minute silence for a living person, just to mislead the public for political traction?” Onyia queried.
He said Gov Peter Mbah had sworn to protect the lives and property of all residents of Enugu State, irrespective of their political affiliations or religious beliefs.
“The state government condemns in its entirety, any form of violence, including politically induced violence in the state. We welcome healthy debate and freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” Onyia said.
He urged political parties and their candidates to embrace decorum and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In his words, “Political parties should be true models of rectitude, and politicians should embrace decorum and issue-based campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.”
He also interrogated NDC’s decision to begin its statewide campaign at the airport without the approval of the relevant authorities, saying, “Is it not sheer rascality to attempt to hold a grand statewide campaign flag-off 2026 of the NDC at the airport as publicised by the party and its gubernatorial candidate, especially without the approval by the appropriate authorities? It is equally important to highlight a consistent pattern by the opposition in Enugu State to create a siege atmosphere aimed at building the false impression that the state is unsafe and its government intolerant of the opposition,” he said.
He accused opposition elements of portraying themselves as victims in incidents he claimed arose from their own internal disputes. “For the avoidance of doubt, what we have on our hands are cases of the instigators and perpetrators playing the victim to gain political capital and curry public sympathy.
“We, however, make bold to say that the peace and security we have achieved in Enugu State in the last three years and at huge material costs and sacrifices by our security agents are non-negotiable and irreversible.”
