The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have exchanged accusations over the violent disruption of a gathering in Owerri, the Imo State capital, with both parties offering conflicting accounts of what transpired.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the APC dismissed reports linking the ruling party to the incident, insisting that the violence resulted from an internal clash among rival factions of the NDC over what it described as disputes arising from the party’s senatorial ticket.
The APC alleged that individuals laying claim to the NDC’s Imo East Senatorial District ticket, including Tony Okpe, Charles Onyeagbako and Uche Onyeagocha, were locked in a leadership dispute which culminated in a violent confrontation after supporters of rival camps disrupted a factional meeting in Owerri Municipal. It claimed chairs were broken and weapons wielded during the clash.
According to the ruling party, government officials, led by Governor Hope Uzodimma’s Special Adviser, Chinasa Nwaneri, alongside security operatives, intervened to restore order and prevent further escalation. The APC commended the intervention, saying it protected residents and vulnerable persons who were caught around the venue.
The APC further maintained that it neither sponsors nor condones political violence, adding that the Uzodimma administration has provided a peaceful environment for all political parties to conduct lawful political activities. It also argued that the NDC remains unregistered, citing what it described as a subsisting Federal High Court judgment, and urged the media to identify the organisation appropriately.
However, the NDC rejected the APC’s claims and denied that the disrupted gathering was an official meeting of the party. In a separate statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ayozie Uchechukwu Ronald, the party said reports describing the event as an NDC meeting were false and misleading.
The opposition party stated that its Owerri Municipal Chairman, Emeka Ihueze, Owerri Zonal Chairman, Stanley Igbo, and the State Chairman, Barrister Reginald Uwakwe, neither convened nor had prior knowledge of the gathering. It insisted that official party meetings are conducted only after notifying the relevant security agencies.
While distancing itself from the meeting, the NDC condemned the violent disruption, describing it as an attack on citizens assembled peacefully. The party alleged that individuals identified as Chinasa, Tapee and members of their team were responsible for the violence, though it provided no evidence to support the claim.
The NDC expressed sympathy for those injured during the incident and called on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation, prosecute anyone found culpable and ensure that the democratic space in Imo State remains safe for all political actors and residents.
