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| Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii |
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to attack his running mate, Barrister Patrick Mgbebu, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The allegation was made by the PDP candidate Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii through his spokesman Emmanuel Igwe, though the claim not been independently established as of publication.
He said the alleged plot emerged after Mgbebu was selected as the PDP deputy governorship candidate for the February 2027 election.
Mgbebu, a former member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and immediate past representative of the state on the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC), was selected by Odii following consultations with party stakeholders.
According to Igwe, information available to the campaign indicated that an alleged meeting was held by some political actors in Abakaliki following Mgbebu’s emergence, during which plans were purportedly discussed to target the deputy governorship candidate upon his return from Abuja.
He further alleged that there were attempts to create a narrative that any attack on Mgbebu resulted from an internal disagreement within the PDP campaign organisation.
Igwe also alleged that social media narratives were being developed to link any such incident to an internal struggle over the deputy governorship ticket and potentially implicate individuals associated with the PDP campaign.
Odii described the allegations as serious and called on security agencies to investigate them and determine whether any individual or group was planning violence against members of the PDP campaign or other political actors in the state.
He expressed concern that political disagreements could escalate into violence, stressing that political contests should be based on ideas, programmes, records and manifestos rather than intimidation or violence.
“Politics should be about ideas, programmes, records, and the presentation of manifestos to the electorate,” Odii said.
The PDP candidate also called for adequate protection for Mgbebu, members of his campaign council, supporters and other political actors in Ebonyi State as preparations for the election continue.
He urged political parties, candidates, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and security agencies to work together to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
“The people of Ebonyi State deserve an election conducted in an atmosphere of peace, freedom, and security. Nobody should be intimidated, threatened, or harmed because of his or her political affiliation,” he said.
Odii further urged investigators to examine every credible lead if any member of his campaign is attacked, including the alleged meeting and the social media narratives reportedly being circulated.
He reaffirmed that his campaign would pursue its political objectives through constitutional and democratic means, while calling for the protection of democratic freedoms during the 2027 electoral process.
The allegations have not been independently established, and no details of any investigation or response from those allegedly implicated were included in the statement released by the PDP candidate's spokesman.