Enugu State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, on Saturday visited party members receiving treatment following the alleged attack on the party’s ward meeting at Ihuani Awkunanaw, Obuoffia, Nkanu West Local Government Area, declaring that no political ambition was worth the blood of an Enugu citizen.
Ohaa made the statement during his visit to the victims at Meridian Hospital, Agbani, where he said he was deeply moved by the condition of those receiving treatment.
“I saw their pain. No political ambition is worth the blood of an Enugu citizen,” he said.
Ohaa said he did not visit the victims simply as a governorship candidate, but “as a brother, as a son of Nkanu, and as a fellow citizen of Enugu whose heart is deeply wounded by what happened.”
He said he looked into the eyes of people who went to a political meeting peacefully and returned with gunshot wounds, stressing that “no political disagreement should ever lead to this.”
According to the NDC, eight of its members sustained gunshot injuries in the incident. The party identified them as Onovo Donald Ekene, Ngene Godwin Madueke, Ogbodo Gloria, Onovo Victor, Maduabuchi Ugwu, Nnaemeka Nelson, Chinonso Nwagbara and Obinna Daniel Owo.
Ohaa said violence must never become the language of politics, adding that the incident was not merely an NDC matter.
He also expressed concern over another incident at St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani, on the same day, where police said hoodlums destroyed canopies and chairs prepared for a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rally.
“This is bigger than NDC. This is bigger than PDP. This is bigger than Labour Party. This is bigger than APC. This is bigger than any political organisation,” Ohaa said.
He appealed to former governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, elder statesmen, political leaders, civil society organisations and people of conscience to speak up and draw a clear line against political violence.
To the victims, Ohaa said: “You are not alone.”
He promised, on behalf of his family, to take responsibility for their medical care and other necessary obligations connected with their treatment and recovery.
“You should not have to worry about medical bills while you fight to regain your health. Your only responsibility now is to heal,” he said.
Ohaa called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident, with those responsible identified and prosecuted regardless of their political affiliation or connections.
He said justice was necessary not only to address the immediate incident but also to prevent a recurrence.
“We will not answer violence with violence. We will not encourage revenge. We will not allow anger to destroy the peace we are seeking to protect,” he said.
Ohaa said the people of Enugu deserved to participate in political activities without fear and that government had a responsibility to value every human life.
He said that, if elected on May 29, 2027, his administration would be committed to building a state where security, justice, dignity and opportunity were rights enjoyed by every citizen.
“Enugu must not bleed for politics. Nkanuland must not become a theatre of political violence,” he said.
“Every life matters. Every citizen matters. Every vote must be protected.”
He added: “The answer to violence is not more violence. The answer is justice, courage, unity and the rule of law.”
Ohaa further said political differences should not lead to bloodshed, urging stakeholders to allow peaceful political competition.
“Let us disagree without killing. Let us campaign without intimidation. Let us compete without bloodshed,” he said.
He concluded by praying for the speedy recovery of the victims and strength for their families.
“To our wounded brothers and sisters: heal quickly. To your families: remain strong. To the people of Enugu: do not lose hope,” Ohaa said, praying that God would bless and protect the people of the state.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command said armed hoodlums disrupted an NDC ward meeting at Ndiuno-Obuoffia, firing sporadically and injuring two attendees.
The police account differs from the NDC’s subsequent account, which identified eight party members it said sustained gunshot injuries. The police have publicly confirmed two injured attendees, while the NDC released the names of eight members it said were injured.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible were brought to book.
The command said its operatives were deployed to the affected locations after receiving reports of the incidents, while noting that organisers had not previously notified the police or requested security coverage for the gatherings.
The police also confirmed the separate disruption of a PDP rally at St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani, where hoodlums allegedly destroyed canopies and chairs prepared for the event.
The Commissioner of Police subsequently warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other electoral offences, and urged organisers of political activities to notify the police in advance for appropriate security arrangements.
