Chief Jude Ezenwafor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the forthcoming 2025 Anambra State governorship election, narrowly escaped death on Friday night after being attacked by unidentified gunmen in Abuja. The ambush occurred in the Wuse 2 district of the Federal Capital Territory as Ezenwafor was heading home after attending a private engagement.

According to reports, the politician sustained several gunshot injuries during the assault and was swiftly taken to an undisclosed medical facility within the city, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Early Saturday morning, Ezenwafor, though weak and visibly distressed, spoke briefly to journalists from his hospital bed. He recounted the traumatic experience, revealing that surgeons were preparing to operate on him in order to extract bullets lodged in his body. “I’m in the hospital now. The doctors are working hard to remove bullets from my body,” he said in a frail tone.

While the exact circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear, his media team confirmed that the assailants fired multiple rounds at him, resulting in serious injuries that required immediate medical attention. The incident has been reported to the relevant security authorities, although official comments from the police or other law enforcement agencies were still pending at the time of reporting.

Sources close to the PDP’s campaign team disclosed that security operatives have launched an investigation into the matter, with the aim of identifying those responsible and preventing further threats to the candidate’s life. The attack has sparked concern among party supporters and political observers alike, particularly due to the rising tensions as the state prepares for the crucial election later this year.

Ezenwafor, who previously contested for the presidency under the Labour Party before rejoining the PDP, was recently ratified as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for Anambra State. His campaign had just begun to gain momentum when this tragic incident occurred, raising fresh questions about political violence and security challenges facing candidates in Nigeria’s election landscape.