At least 10 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were injured after unidentified hoodlums attacked a political gathering in Ikwuator Idembia, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, sparking fresh concerns over political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The victims were said to be receiving treatment in different hospitals following the attack, which occurred during a rally organised to welcome Ifeanyi Nworie, a former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), into the PDP.
According to eyewitness accounts, the event was initially scheduled to hold at a village square in the community. However, the gathering was reportedly disrupted by the attackers shortly after participants assembled for the reception.
Witnesses said the organisers later moved the event to Nworie’s private residence in an effort to continue the programme peacefully, but the assailants allegedly followed them to the new venue and launched another attack on party members and supporters.
Residents who witnessed the incident said several people sustained injuries during the chaos, while property including plastic chairs, canopies, a public address system and other equipment used for the rally were destroyed.
“It was a peaceful gathering before the hoodlums arrived,” one eyewitness said. “People started running for safety, and many were injured in the process.”
The attack reportedly caused panic in the community, with women, youths and elderly participants scrambling to escape the violence.
Eyewitnesses also alleged that journalists travelling to cover the political event were attacked on their way to the venue.
According to accounts from those affected, the journalists were travelling in an official vehicle belonging to the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) when they were confronted by suspected hoodlums.
The attackers allegedly attempted to vandalise the vehicle before the driver sped away from the scene, preventing further damage.
The journalists further claimed that one of the individuals at the scene warned them not to return to the community.
The incident has drawn condemnation from the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP, which described the attack on party members and journalists as an assault on democratic participation and press freedom.
Addressing journalists after the incident, the state Chairman of the PDP, Chukwuma Igwe, alleged that members of the opposition party had faced increasing intimidation and harassment in recent weeks.
He called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice.
“We condemn in strong terms the attack on our members and on journalists who were simply carrying out their constitutional duties,” Igwe said.
According to him, no political party should be prevented from holding lawful meetings, rallies or welcoming new members.
Igwe urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Armed Forces and other security agencies to guarantee the safety of all political parties and ensure a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We call 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 his or her civic and political rights,” he stated.
The PDP chairman also appealed to party supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding despite the provocation.
“We will not be intimidated,” he said. “Our members should continue to conduct themselves peacefully and allow security agencies to perform their duties.”
Igwe further called on the Ebonyi State Government to uphold democratic principles and ensure that opposition parties are allowed to operate freely without fear of violence or intimidation.
“No individual or group has a monopoly of violence,” he added. “Democracy can only thrive where all political actors are free to participate without harassment.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC), however, denied any involvement in the attack.
The Ebonyi State Chairman of the APC, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, described the ruling party as a peaceful organisation and rejected allegations linking it to the violence.
According to him, the attack may have been carried out by individuals unhappy with Nworie’s decision to leave the APC.
“Our governor does not support violence, and APC members have been advised repeatedly to conduct themselves peacefully,” Emegha said.
He insisted that the APC had no reason to sponsor violence against political opponents and maintained that the party was not connected with the incident.
“We have no reason whatsoever to attack anybody because of political differences,” he added.
The attack has heightened concerns about rising political tensions in Ebonyi State as political realignments intensify ahead of the next election cycle.
Political observers say the incident underscores the need for stronger security measures to protect political gatherings, party members and journalists covering electoral activities.
Civil society groups have also expressed concern that attacks on opposition meetings and media practitioners could undermine confidence in the democratic process if not promptly investigated and addressed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the attack, the number of arrests made, or the progress of investigations into the incident.
