Enugu Rejects Links to NDC Clashes, Warns Against 2027 Violence

​ENUGU — The Enugu State Government has strongly refuted allegations connecting its officials to the twin violent incidents involving the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC) on October 10, maintaining that the administration has no hand in the unrest.

​Speaking during an emergency press briefing at the Government House in Enugu, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, addressed journalists on the clashes at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the party’s GRA state secretariat.

​Unpacking the Incidents

​Addressing the airport standoff, Prof. Onyia explained that the crisis ensued after the NDC attempted to host a “Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off” without securing mandatory authorization from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). According to him, security agencies had advised the party leadership to halt the unauthorized mobilization at a national security installation, a warning that was reportedly disregarded, leading to a faceoff.

​On the violence at the NDC state secretariat later that day, the government confirmed that one person sustained a gunshot injury and is receiving medical care. However, the SSG aggressively dismissed viral rumors of fatalities as entirely false, noting that a full-scale police investigation is actively underway.

​Debunking Allegations and Raising Alarms

​The state government also addressed claims targeting the Governor’s Chief Security Officer, labeling accusations that he supervised the secretariat shooting as malicious fabrications. The SSG clarified that the CSO was officially engaged elsewhere, attending a public function alongside Governor Peter Mbah at the time.

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​Shifting focus to broader political threats, the administration raised an alarm over intelligence reports pointing to alleged plots by opposition elements to recruit armed thugs with the intent to truncate public peace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

​Reaffirming Democratic Values

​Reiterating Governor Mbah’s unwavering stance on security, the administration emphasized that while political plurality and freedom of association remain welcome in the state, lawlessness and threats to public safety will face the full wrath of the law.

​”We believe Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has delivered profoundly on his mandate,” Prof. Onyia stated, expressing confidence that the administration’s developmental strides render intimidation tactics unnecessary as the state heads toward 2027.