The Enugu State Government has alleged that some opposition elements are plotting to bring armed thugs and bandits into the state to create panic and undermine public confidence in security ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, made the allegation on Sunday during a press conference at the Government House, Enugu, while addressing Saturday’s incidents involving the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the party’s state secretariat.

Onyia denied claims that the state government or Governor Peter Mbah’s Chief Security Officer, Ifeanyi Osondu, was involved in the incidents. He said the airport confrontation arose from the party’s attempt to organise a campaign flag-off without obtaining approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

According to the SSG, preliminary findings indicated that security agencies had advised the NDC to secure the necessary approval before proceeding with the proposed event. He alleged that the party nevertheless mobilised supporters to the airport, leading to a confrontation with authorities.

He said security operatives subsequently intervened to restore order at the airport, which he described as a strategic national asset. The government’s account, he added, was consistent with the Enugu State Police Command’s statement on the incident.

Government Says One Person Injured in Secretariat Incident

On the reported shooting at the NDC secretariat in the GRA area of Enugu, Onyia said security reports indicated that a violent clash had occurred and that the police were investigating the incident.

He disputed reports of fatalities, maintaining that the government’s preliminary findings showed that no one had died.

The SSG identified the injured man as 43-year-old Ifeanyi Nworie, who reportedly 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.

Onyia also rejected allegations that Osondu was present at the secretariat and supervised the shooting, claiming that the security officer was accompanying Mbah at the Teachers Grassroots Movement mega rally at Okpara Square when the incident occurred.

He further criticised the reported holding of a minute’s silence for a person he claimed was still alive, describing the action as an attempt to mislead the public for political gain.

However, the Enugu State Police Command has ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged shooting at the NDC secretariat, while calling on political parties to shun violence and conduct their activities within the law.

Mbah Government Condemns Political Violence

The SSG said the Mbah administration remained committed to protecting the lives and property of all residents, irrespective of their political or religious affiliations.

He said the government’s ambition to grow Enugu into a $30 billion economy and position it as a preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living depended on sustained peace and security.

According to him, the administration had invested substantially in security infrastructure and operations over the past three years to safeguard residents and maintain stability.

“Consequently, the Enugu State Government strongly condemns in its entirety any form of violence, including politically induced violence in the state. We welcome healthy debate and freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” he said.

Onyia urged political parties and their candidates to exercise restraint and embrace issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that democratic rights should be exercised responsibly.

He also accused opposition elements of attempting to portray Enugu as unsafe and the state government as intolerant of opposing political parties. He alleged that some opposition groups had attributed internal disagreements and violent clashes to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Citing an incident at Obuofia in Nkanu West Local Government Area on September 12, 2026, Onyia claimed that investigations had identified alleged perpetrators who were being prosecuted by the police.

Government Expresses Confidence in Mbah’s Re-election

The SSG maintained that the state government had no reason to resort to desperate measures ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that Mbah’s record in office would be the basis for seeking another term.

He said the administration supported residents’ right to elect their preferred leaders through free, fair and credible elections.

“Indeed, these inalienable rights of Ndi Enugu to elect their leaders in free, fair and credible polls are our surest hope for re-election come 2027,” Onyia said.

He reiterated the government’s allegation that some opposition elements were planning to import armed thugs and bandits into the state to create insecurity, adding that the government would not compromise the peace it claimed to have maintained over the past three years.

The allegations against opposition groups had not been independently established in the information provided, while police investigations into the reported incidents remained ongoing.