PDP chieftain urges Ebonyi police to protect opposition

A prominent figure within Nigeria's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has called upon the state's police command to ensure the safety of opposition parties, their members, and journalists covering political events. Barrister Ifeanyi Nworie, a former PDP chairman in the state, issued the appeal while condemning a reported attack on PDP supporters and media personnel during a rally.

The incident allegedly occurred at Ikwuator village in Ezza South Local Government Area. Nworie claims that over 50 individuals disrupted the rally, attacked attendees, and destroyed property. He implicated the state's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the disruption, an allegation the APC has denied. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ebonyi State has also expressed concern over the alleged attacks on its members.

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Instead of the police that I wrote to and notified of the event to provide security for me and other PDP members, they could provide the needed security. But they stood and idled around while we were attacked.

Adding to the controversy, Nworie accused the Ebonyi State Police Command of negligence, stating that officers present failed to intervene during the alleged assault. He asserted that he had formally requested police protection for the event, providing a letter dated July 31, 2026, as evidence. The letter cited threats to his life and those of his supporters and party officials as the reason for seeking security.

However, the Ebonyi State Police Command has refuted Nworie's claims, denying receipt of any letter or petition requesting security for the PDP event. The command's statement, signed by its spokesperson, directly contradicts Nworie's account of seeking and being denied police protection.

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Due to this, I have received a chain of threats to my personal life, my loyalists going with me as well as our national and state officers, including very important persons coming from far and near. It is against this background that I passionately applied for adequate security coverage/personnel from your good office to avoid the breakdown of law and order from those threatening me and this programme. I am a law-abiding citizen, sir.