No fewer than 10 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are receiving treatment in various hospitals across Ebonyi State after suspected political thugs disrupted a party rally in Ikwuator Idembia, Ezza South Local Government Area, leaving several people injured and property destroyed.

The violence occurred on Saturday afternoon during a reception organised to welcome former All Progressives Congress (APC) member, Ifeanyi Nworie, into the PDP.

The event was initially scheduled to hold at a roadside village square in the community. However, eyewitnesses said suspected thugs wearing T-shirts bearing the image of a federal lawmaker stormed the venue, forcing the organisers to relocate the gathering to Nworie’s private residence.

The relocation, however, did little to prevent the violence, as the attackers reportedly traced participants to the new venue, where they allegedly unleashed another wave of attacks.

Several PDP supporters sustained varying degrees of injuries, while canopies, plastic chairs, public address systems and other valuables were vandalised during the incident.

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki after the attack, Ebonyi State PDP Chairman, Chukwuma Igwe, condemned the incident, describing it as a calculated assault on democracy and an attempt to intimidate opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Igwe alleged that the attack was part of a growing pattern of intimidation against PDP members in the state, claiming that party supporters had faced repeated threats and assaults in recent weeks.

He said vehicles were damaged and several people were attacked with dangerous weapons, adding that at least eight victims were receiving medical treatment following the latest incident.

“We have called this press conference to draw the attention of Nigeria and Nigerians to undemocratic actions deliberately orchestrated to undermine the conduct of the 2027 general elections in Ebonyi State,” he said.

The PDP chairman called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Armed Forces and other security agencies to discharge their constitutional responsibilities by protecting all political parties and ensuring a level playing field ahead of the elections.

He maintained that the PDP would not be intimidated by what he described as anti-democratic forces, regardless of those allegedly behind the attacks.

“As political activities commence in the coming days, we urge our members to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

“We also call on the Ebonyi State Government to play by the rules of democracy, bearing in mind that no one has a monopoly on violence or misconduct,” Igwe stated.

He further urged security agencies to remain impartial in the discharge of their duties and safeguard citizens’ constitutional rights to freely associate and participate in political activities.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State chapter of the APC has denied involvement in the incident.

Responding to the PDP’s allegation, APC State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, described the party as a peaceful organisation guided by the leadership of Governor Francis Nwifuru, whom he said strongly opposes political violence.

According to Emegha, individuals dissatisfied with Nworie’s political decisions may have masterminded the attack rather than APC members.

“So far as it has to do with APC in Ebonyi State, we watch the body language of our dear Governor. He doesn’t want to offend anyone. As such, we must toe his path.

“There is no time APC will have a hand in violence because if anyone gets involved, the governor will abandon such a person,” he said.

He added that Governor Nwifuru believes political disagreements should not degenerate into violence, stressing that political opponents could become allies in the future.

“People who are no longer comfortable with Ifeanyi Nworie’s political behaviour may be responsible for the incident,” Emegha added.

The violence also affected journalists covering the event.

No fewer than 10 journalists travelling in the official vehicle of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, were reportedly attacked while on their way to the rally at the invitation of Nworie.

The assailants allegedly smashed parts of the NUJ-branded vehicle in an attempt to gain access to it and reportedly searched for fuel with the intention of setting it ablaze before the driver successfully manoeuvred out of the area.

One of the alleged attackers, Friday Agbom, an APC chieftain and legal practitioner, reportedly warned the journalists against returning to the community, describing them as “political journalists.”

As of the time of filing this report, the police had not issued an official statement on arrests or an investigation into the incident.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court which ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party and three other political parties.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision on Tuesday, declared the judgement ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the parties “null and void.”

Recall that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had ordered INEC to deregister the parties over their performance in the 2023 general elections.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the affected political parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) — approached the Court of Appeal seeking to nullify the Federal High Court judgement.

However, the three-member panel of the appellate court, presided over by Justice Abba Mohammed, held that the trial court lacked the judicial power to entertain the case in the first place.

The Court of Appeal also faulted the Federal High Court for proceeding with the delivery of the judgement despite an order by the appellate court directing a stay of proceedings, which included the delivery of the judgement.

The appellate court described the Federal High Court’s decision as “a nullity,” stating that the action of the trial court amounted to “judicial impertinence” or what the Supreme Court had described as “judicial insubordination.”

The court further held that the first respondent lacked the locus standi to institute the action in the first place, and consequently set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court.

“The evidence before the court clearly shows compliance with Section 225A of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The judgement of the trial judge was perverse,” the Court of Appeal held.

The former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to focus on ensuring the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections.

In a statement on Sunday in Enugu, Okechukwu noted that credible elections remained the strongest antidote to intra-party impunity.

He was responding to the INEC Chairman’s recent call on political parties to adhere strictly to principles of internal democracy during a courtesy visit to former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger.

According to Okechukwu, the INEC Chairman has consistently emphasised the issue of internal democracy, having made similar remarks in Akwa Ibom in March 2026 and again in Abuja in June 2026.

He said, “Whereas one agrees with the Chairman that strict observance of internal democracy within political parties is of paramount importance.

“However, the greatest incentive for political parties to uphold internal democracy is the consistent conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections by INEC.”

He argued that political scientists had long maintained that political parties were more likely to respect democratic principles and popular will when electoral processes are credible and transparent.

“Political party leaders will do everything within the ambit of the law to keep their houses in order and present the most acceptable and popular candidates when they are confident that elections will be free and fair.

“In such circumstances, they are compelled to obey the wishes of the electorate. However, when elections are perceived as lacking transparency, internal party conflicts and impunity are more likely to thrive,” he said.

Okechukwu also dismissed the allegation of other political parties feelings that INEC is the handgun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC chieftain said that APC needed free and fair elections as core patriots who are committed to the genuine growth of our fledgling democracy and overall progress of every Nigerian.

“I dismiss the handgun allegation, as APC needs free and fair elections,not only for legitimacy with our 31 state governors, but for the genuine growth of our fledgling democracy and overall good governance,” he said.

He maintained that the APC remained a formidable political force and that credible elections would ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and political parties alike.

The Enugu State chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the Dr. Johnpaul Anih-led State Working Committee (SWC), reaffirming its confidence in the current leadership and warning individuals allegedly plotting to destabilise the party to desist.

The resolution was reached on Saturday during an expanded meeting of the state working committee, party stakeholders, candidates and members, who commended the state executive for its leadership, commitment and efforts at repositioning the NDC in Enugu State.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, the Chairman of the party in Isiuzo Local Government Area, Hon. Jonathan Ogbu, said the current state leadership had transformed the fortunes of the party in Enugu.

“This is the only leadership of the party that emerged through a valid congress monitored by INEC, and any attempt by Enugu politicians spending dollars in Abuja to destabilise the party will be firmly resisted”.

“Without the current leadership, nobody would be hearing about the NDC in Enugu State today. The Dr. Johnpaul Anih-led executive has given the party life and made it attractive through its programmes and grassroots mobilisation,” he said.

Corroborating his position, the Igboeze North Local Government Chairman of the party, Hon. Kingsley Ape and his Aninri counterpart, Hon. Stephen Ajah, stated that the achievements of the present leadership had positioned the party to participate effectively in the forthcoming local government elections.

According to them, without the Dr. Johnpaul Anih-led executive, the NDC would not have been on the ballot for the forthcoming local government chairmanship and councillorship elections in Enugu State.

The party leaders declared that they remain firmly behind Dr. Anih and his executive, insisting that the State Working Committee enjoys the overwhelming confidence and support of the party’s grassroots structure across the 17 local government areas of the state.

They further warned that any attempt to tamper with the existing leadership could trigger a mass exodus of members from the party in Enugu State.

The stakeholders also cautioned individuals allegedly fomenting crisis within the party, urging them to steer clear of activities capable of undermining the unity, stability and progress of the NDC.

According to them, any attempt to create parallel party structures or sow discord among members would be firmly resisted in the interest of preserving the party’s cohesion ahead of future political engagements.

The members equally expressed concern over what they described as the actions of the party’s national leadership, alleging that recent developments could further deepen internal disagreements if not handled with fairness and respect for due process.

They urged the national leadership to refrain from actions capable of escalating tensions within the party, stressing that internal disputes should be resolved in line with the party’s constitution and democratic principles.

Reaffirming their loyalty to the NDC, the stakeholders called on members across the state to remain united, focused and committed to building a stronger political platform.

They pledged their continued support for the Dr. Johnpaul Anih-led State Working Committee and maintained that the Enugu chapter would continue to protect the integrity of the party while working tirelessly to advance its political objectives in the state.