The African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have condemned alleged attacks on opposition parties in Enugu State.
They warned that democracy in the state was heading towards anarchy, calling on security agencies and the Federal Government to intervene and ensure the protection of opposition politicians and their supporters.
The parties made the condemnation at a joint press conference held at the Press Centre, Enugu, on Monday, following Saturday’s alleged attacks on NDC members at two different locations in the state.
Narrating the incident, NDC governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, alleged that he and his supporters were attacked on Saturday while returning from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Ohaa alleged that several supporters sustained injuries, while vehicles were damaged and mobile phones belonging to some journalists and party members were seized during the incident.
“When I arrived from the airport on Oct. 10, I was attacked and my members who came to welcome me were humiliated,” he said.
He alleged that security operatives prevented his supporters from accessing the airport and subsequently blocked his convoy at different locations.
According to him, the attackers followed his convoy to the party’s campaign office where another attack allegedly occurred.
Ohaa further alleged that eight party supporters were injured during an attack few months back, including a woman who sustained a gunshot wound on her breast and a man who underwent surgery following injuries to his abdomen.
The NDC candidate urged the state government to investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
Ohaa also urged the state government to ensure that opposition parties were allowed to carry out their legitimate political activities without intimidation.
Similarly, the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Uche Nnaji, described the alleged attacks as unacceptable and called for an end to political violence in the state.
Nnaji said opposition parties had come together to express solidarity with the NDC and demanded adequate security for political activities.
“We believe in politics without bitterness. Politics is not a do-or-die affair, and nobody should be harassed or killed because of political differences.
“If you have done something for the state, you do not need to intimidate or kill people for them to see it. You only need to showcase your achievements,” he said.
Nnaji called on security agencies, the Federal Government and the international community to pay attention to the political situation in Enugu State.
Also speaking, the ADC governorship candidate in the state, Chief Ocho Obodoeze, expressed solidarity with the NDC over the alleged attacks.
Obodoeze said political violence posed a threat to democracy and should be condemned irrespective of the political affiliation of those affected.
He alleged that his party had suffered similar attacks during a thanksgiving event, when its supporters were allegedly chased away and canopies and chairs disrupted.
He further alleged that the party had also received death threats, which were documented and reported to the Department of State Services (DSS).
Obodoeze said the presence of security agencies at the airport should ordinarily guarantee the safety of citizens receiving political leaders and other visitors.
He urged the state government to investigate the allegations rather than dismiss complaints raised by opposition parties.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government in a media briefing on Sunday, delivered by the Secretary to State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, denied involvement in the attack.
Onyia said that the airport incident was a matter between the NDC members and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu as due approval was not given to the party.