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After an alleged attack on its reception rally in Opi, Nsukka, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the state government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to either condemn or admit responsibility.
Southeastposts reports that the rally, held at St. Charles Catholic Church field over the weekend, was organised to welcome over 1,000 defectors from the PDP, Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Party (ADP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) into the APC.
Party leaders, including Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji; APC state chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah; House of Representatives members Sunday Umeha, Chimobi Atu and Prof. Paul Nnamchi; and former Commissioner for Lands, Peter Okonkwo, alleged that the attack was carried out by PDP agents to disrupt the event.
Chief Nnaji lauded Nsukka residents and the defectors for defying the violence, vowing that intimidation would not deter the party.
He listed federal projects and appointments under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including road projects in Nsukka, job opportunities for indigenes, and the appointment of an Nsukka native as Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Peter Okonkwo, a former Commissioner in the state, claimed that armed members of the state’s Neighbourhood Watch attacked the venue three times, firing shots in the air, destroying property worth millions of naira, injuring participants, and tearing posters of President Tinubu.
Meanwhile , the state party chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah, described the incident as part of a pattern of politically motivated violence, recalling similar disruptions at APC events in Udi and Igbo-Eze North. He commended members for resisting pressure to abandon the venue.
Also speaking, the three federal lawmakers reiterated the 24-hour ultimatum, citing late Gen. Sani Abacha’s remark that when a crime persists for more than 24 hours without action, the government may be complicit.
They urged Enugu residents and Ndigbo to connect with the “centre” to benefit from federal projects, including a new federal university approved for Ako Nike in Enugu State.
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