The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Thursday buried one of its members, Ifeanyi Nwolie, who was shot by suspected political thugs during an attack on the party’s campaign office in the GRA area of Enugu State, with the party vowing that his death would not be in vain.
Nwolie, a native of Affa in the Udi Local Government Area of the state, was shot during the violent attack on October 10, 2026, and died two days later at the age of 43.
The burial was attended by the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the party’s governorship candidate in Enugu State, Christian Ohaa, who led a delegation of party chieftains, candidates from across the South-East and a large number of supporters.
In a statement signed by Ohaa’s media aide, Sampson Ukwu, the party said Obi encouraged everyone to live with the understanding that “we shall all die one day, regardless of political or financial status.”
The statement said Obi prayed that God would console the bereaved family, especially the aged mother of the deceased, and committed to taking full responsibility for her care and needs.
“He stressed that politics should never be a do-or-die affair,” the statement added.
Ohaa, while welcoming those present, said the entire NDC family was in deep sorrow but insisted that Nwolie’s death would not be in vain.
The statement quoted Ohaa as saying that “while the entire NDC family is in deep sorrow, the death of Ifeanyi Nwolie will not be in vain.”
Earlier, the NDC chairman of Udi LGA confirmed that Ohaa had personally paid the hospital bill of over N5m for the late Nwolie and had also funded the burial expenses.
The party said it remained resolute and would continue to demand justice for Nwolie and all victims of political violence in Enugu State.
“The NDC remains resolute. We will continue to demand justice for Ifeanyi Christopher Nwolie and all victims of political violence in Enugu State,” the statement said.
“May the soul of Ifeanyi Nwolie rest in perfect peace,” it added.
The burial came amid a pattern of political violence in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the NDC repeatedly accusing suspected thugs of attacking its members.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the police arrested a traditional ruler, Igwe Obiora Igwesi; his brother and former member of the House of Representatives, U.S.A. Igwesi; and eight others over an alleged armed attack on NDC members in the Obuoffia area of Nkanu West LGA.
The arrests followed a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police by the NDC over the September 12, 2026, attack on the party’s ward meeting in Ihuani Awkunanaw, the home ward of Ohaa.
The state police command had also commenced a probe into the attack, during which eight NDC members sustained gunshot injuries.
The NDC had condemned the attack as a calculated act of political intimidation and demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.