Enugu Govt, NDC Trade Blame After Airport Clash and Secretariat Shooting

The Enugu State Government has alleged that some opposition elements are plotting to bring armed thugs and bandits into the state to create insecurity and undermine public confidence ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, as tensions rise following violent incidents involving the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, made the allegation on Sunday, October 11, during a press conference at Government House in Enugu. He also denied claims that Governor Peter Mbah’s administration was involved in confrontations at Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the NDC state secretariat on Saturday, October 10.

The government did not publicly provide specific evidence, identify the alleged plotters or disclose when and where the suspected recruitment or movement of armed groups was expected to take place. The allegation therefore remains a claim by the state government, rather than an independently established plot.

Onyia said the administration would not allow the peace and security it claims to have maintained in recent years to be undermined by political activities. He maintained that residents must be able to campaign, associate with political parties and vote freely, while urging politicians to avoid violence and focus on issues affecting the electorate.

The allegations followed a confrontation at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, where NDC members and supporters had gathered for an event advertised by the party as its statewide campaign flag-off.

According to Onyia, the party did not obtain the necessary approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to hold the event at the airport. He said security agencies had advised the organisers to secure authorisation before proceeding, but the gathering went ahead and a confrontation followed when members attempted to gain entry to the facility.

The NDC, however, described the events differently. In a statement issued through the office of its Enugu governorship candidate, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, the party alleged that its members and supporters were attacked while gathering for the campaign flag-off. The statement accused thugs of assaulting supporters and damaging vehicles, and criticised the conduct of security operatives present at the scene. These are allegations by the party and have not been independently established in their entirety.

The Enugu State Police Command's account provides additional context. In a statement issued on Sunday, police said joint security personnel dispersed party members who had gathered in a disorderly manner at the airport entrance. Preliminary findings indicated that airport authorities had restricted large numbers of supporters from entering to receive their governorship candidate, after which a misunderstanding reportedly escalated into a fight.

The accounts differ over responsibility for the confrontation, but the competing claims underline the need for a clear, independently verifiable account of what happened and whether anyone should face criminal charges. Police Investigate Shooting at NDC Secretariat

A separate incident occurred outside the NDC state secretariat in Enugu’s GRA area on the same day. Police said unidentified armed hoodlums allegedly shot a man who was repairing a vehicle parked along the road at about 2:30 p.m. The incident reportedly damaged the windscreens of five parked vehicles.

The police said the injured man was taken to hospital and was in stable condition, while Commissioner of Police Mamman Bitrus Giwa ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to identify and apprehend those responsible. The investigation was ongoing as of Sunday, according to the police statement.

Onyia identified the injured man as 43-year-old Ifeanyi Nworie and said he had been stabilised at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital before being transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital for further examination. The government rejected reports that the incident resulted in a death, although its account and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain subject to the police investigation.

The SSG also denied allegations that the governor’s Chief Security Officer, Ifeanyi Osondu, was present at the secretariat and supervised the shooting. He said Osondu was with the governor at a rally at Okpara Square at the time. That denial is the state government's position; the police investigation is expected to establish the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible.

The government further criticised opposition figures for allegedly using security incidents to portray Enugu as unsafe and the administration as intolerant of dissent. It also disputed the NDC's reported decision to observe a minute's silence for someone the government said was alive, describing the action as politically motivated.

The dispute comes as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections. Governor Mbah, who took office in 2023, is seeking another term, and his administration says its record in office should determine voters' decisions. The government has argued that peaceful competition and credible elections are essential to the state's political and economic development.

Political violence and allegations of intimidation can have consequences beyond individual party disputes. They can discourage participation, undermine public confidence in electoral institutions and make it harder for candidates to campaign freely. Equally, unsubstantiated claims of planned violence can deepen mistrust if they are not followed by credible evidence and transparent investigations.

For now, the alleged plot to import armed groups remains unproven in the public record, while the airport confrontation and secretariat shooting have generated competing accounts from the government, the NDC and the police. The priority should be to establish the facts, hold any perpetrators accountable regardless of political affiliation, and protect the right of all parties to organize peacefully. As the 2027 elections approach, Enugu's political stability will depend not simply on assurances from those in power, but on impartial law enforcement, credible investigations and the ability of opposition groups to participate without fear.