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Party vows to resist revocation plot, petitions Tinubu, police, DSS, INEC
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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Adviser and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged plot by Governor Francis Nwifuru to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of its secretariat in Abakaliki, the state capital.
At a press conference yesterday in the capital city, chairman of the party, Chukwuma Igwe, accused the governor of political intolerance, intimidation and harassment of its members and vowed that the party would resist him.
He said any unlawful attempt to interfere with, revoke, tamper with or politically target the PDP state secretariat or any lawful structure belonging to the party would be firmly resisted through every available constitutional, democratic, political and lawful means.
He averred that it is deeply unfortunate that at a time when Ebonyi people expect governance focused on economic revival, youth empowerment, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and employment generation, valuable state energy and public attention appear increasingly diverted toward political vendetta, intimidation and unnecessary confrontation against opposition forces.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State Chapter, hereby formally draws the urgent attention of security agencies, democratic institutions, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organizations, development partners, members of the diplomatic community and the general public to what has now assumed a dangerous pattern of political intimidation, executive intolerance and calculated attempts to suppress opposition political activities in Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“The PDP has observed with grave concern recent political developments and public remarks allegedly linked to the Ebonyi State Government regarding plans to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) covering the PDP State Secretariat in Abakaliki.
“If eventually carried out, such action would not only amount to a direct assault on constitutional democracy and multiparty political participation, but would also represent a reckless abuse of executive powers capable of endangering political stability and democratic order within the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP Ebonyi State Chapter wishes to unequivocally state that the party shall not fold its arms or surrender democratic space to intimidation, harassment or executive recklessness.
“Any unlawful attempt to interfere with, revoke, tamper with or politically target the PDP State Secretariat or any lawful structure belonging to the party shall be firmly resisted through every available constitutional, democratic, political and lawful means.
“Those who believe state power grants them unrestricted authority to intimidate opposition voices must understand that democracy is neither sustained by fear nor preserved through oppression.
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“Political parties are not personal properties of governments in power, and neither is Ebonyi State the private estate of any political office holder.
“It is deeply unfortunate that at a time when Ebonyians expect governance focused on economic revival, youth empowerment, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and employment generation, valuable state energy and public attention appear increasingly diverted toward political vendetta, intimidation and unnecessary confrontation against opposition forces.
“The PDP further notes with concern the growing climate of fear allegedly being orchestrated against opposition members and dissenting voices across the state through intimidation, harassment and abuse of state influence.
“Let it be clearly stated that democracy thrives on plurality, tolerance, and healthy political competition — not coercion, suppression, and misuse of state institutions.
“The PDP remains a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s democratic history and the political development of Ebonyi State from 1999 to 2021. Ironically, many principal actors within the present administration, including Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru himself, politically evolved and attained prominence under the democratic platform and political opportunities created by the PDP.
“It is therefore both unacceptable and politically dangerous for any government that emerged from democratic structures to now appear uncomfortable with the very opposition culture democracy guarantees,” Igwe stated.
Governor Francis Nwifuru had, during an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship victory party held at the banquet hall of the old Government House, Abakaliki, shortly after he was declared winner of the governorship primary of the party, said that he was the one who applied for the allocation of the land on which the PDP secretariat was constructed and that he was in possession of its Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), which infuriated the PDP.
Addressing stakeholders and members of the APC during the victory party, Nwifuru said: “I want to give you this information tonight. In that PDP secretariat, I was the one that applied for allocation of that land and the allocation was written on somebody’s name and I hold the allocation paper and the C of O and I bought the land beside PDP secretariat from Fred Udeogu. I bought that land N3million each and I have the documents.
“When people wake up to say we have party secretariat, I say where? Where is the place? You don’t have any property and mind you compensation which is one of conditions of acquiring that property has not been paid.
“If you ask the two families that own the land I bought there, they will tell you that I paid the M500,000 each and they signed for me.
“So, when people get up to say this property belongs to me, how? Did you know how that property was acquired. You have to ask those of us who have worked there how that property came to be”.
