The Enugu State Government has alleged that some opposition elements are plotting to import armed thugs and bandits into the state to create panic and a false sense of insecurity ahead of the 2027 general election.
The government also faulted leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for observing a minute’s silence for a person who is still alive, which it described as an attempt to gain political traction.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, made the claims on Sunday night at a press conference at Government House, Enugu.
Onyia said the peace and security achieved in the state over the last three years, at great material cost and through the sacrifices of security agents, were “non-negotiable and irreversible.”
He said the administration of Governor Peter Mbah remained committed to protecting citizens’ democratic rights, including the freedom to campaign and to vote for candidates of their choice. According to him, the right to elect leaders through free, fair and credible polls is fundamental to the state’s democratic development.
The SSG expressed confidence that Mbah would secure a second term on the strength of his performance and delivery on campaign promises, adding that the government had no reason to resort to desperate measures.
Airport and secretariat incidents
Onyia addressed the incidents involving the NDC at Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the party’s state secretariat in Enugu on Saturday. He denied any involvement by the government or the governor’s Chief Security Officer, Ifeanyi Osondu, in either incident.
He said the airport confrontation was a matter between the NDC and federal authorities, while the shooting at the secretariat was already under police investigation.
According to the SSG, preliminary findings show that the airport incident followed the NDC’s attempt to hold a “Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026” at the facility without approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). He said the party had publicly invited members and supporters to the event, including through the Facebook page of its governorship candidate.
He added that police had advised the party to obtain FAAN’s approval before security personnel could be deployed, and that security agencies later asked the organisers to rethink the rally.
“Further findings, however, revealed that the NDC did not secure the approval of FAAN to host a grand statewide rally at its facility,” he said.
Onyia alleged that the NDC went ahead to mobilise its members to the airport and tried to force entry, leading to a confrontation with airport authorities. Security agencies, he said, intervened to disperse the “riotous” party members and restore order at what he described as a strategic national asset. He noted that this account was consistent with a statement issued by the Enugu State Police Command on Sunday.
On the shooting at the NDC secretariat in the GRA area of Enugu, the SSG said security reports established that a violent clash occurred at the party’s office and that police were investigating.
He disputed reports of fatalities, saying government findings showed that no one died. He disclosed that a 43-year-old man, Ifeanyi Nworie, sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, where he was stabilised before being transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, for further examination.
“We can, therefore, authoritatively report that there were no deaths as falsely claimed by some reports and NDC leaders,” he said.
Onyia also dismissed claims that the Chief Security Officer was at the secretariat and supervised the shooting, saying the officer was with the governor at the Teachers Grassroots Movement mega rally at Okpara Square, Enugu, at the time.
“Gross mischief”
The SSG criticised the reported minute’s silence for an individual he said was alive, calling it an attempt to mislead the public for political advantage. He also questioned the decision to announce a statewide campaign flag-off at the airport without approval from the relevant authorities.
“Without holding brief for FAAN, 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?
“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?” he asked.
Onyia said Mbah had sworn to protect the lives and property of all residents, regardless of religious or political affiliation. He added that the administration’s ambition to grow Enugu into a $30 billion economy and a preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living depended significantly on sustained peace and security, which informed its heavy investment in security infrastructure over the past three years.
He said the state government “strongly condemns in its entirety any form of violence, including politically induced violence,” while welcoming healthy debate, freedom of association and peaceful assembly. He urged political parties and their candidates to exercise restraint and embrace issue-based campaigns, and to serve as models of decorum and integrity.
Allegations against opposition
The SSG accused opposition elements of trying to create the impression that Enugu was unsafe and that the government was intolerant of opposing parties. He alleged that some opposition groups had been blaming internal disagreements and violent clashes on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
He cited the September 12 incident at Obuofia in Nkanu West Local Government Area, saying investigations had identified the alleged perpetrators, who are being prosecuted by police.
Onyia described the opposition as factionalised and alleged that some of its members were seeking to draw the state government into controversies in order to remain politically relevant.
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