The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Enugu State has accused the administration of Governor Peter Mbah of shielding suspected political thugs and attempting to frustrate investigations into the violent attack on opposition members at Obuoffia Awkunanaw in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.
The opposition party made the allegation in a statement issued on Tuesday, describing the state government’s response to the development as “desperate, unhinged and self-incriminating.”
The NDC particularly criticised what it described as the government’s swift reaction to reports that suspected perpetrators and sponsors of the September 12 attack had been arrested by federal law enforcement authorities.
According to the opposition party, government officials rushed to deny that any arrests had been made, rather than demanding justice for members of the NDC who were attacked during a ward meeting.
“By rushing to the media to aggressively deny that any arrests were made, the Lion Building has inadvertently handed Ndi Enugu the ultimate confession,” the party said.
The NDC questioned whether the government was suggesting that individuals accused of attacking opposition members could operate above the law because of their alleged connection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party said, “Is the state government now telling Ndi Enugu that attackers, gunmen, and political terrorists are officially above the law simply because they carry the APC card?”
The NDC alleged that its members were attacked, shot and injured while attending what it described as a lawful ward meeting at Obuoffia, adding that properties were also destroyed during the incident.
It further accused the state government of failing to provide immediate support or justice to the victims, while allegedly becoming more concerned about defending suspects after reports emerged that federal security agencies had begun apprehending persons linked to the attack.
“When peaceful citizens and NDC members were brutally attacked, shot, and maimed during a lawful ward meeting in Obuoffia, Nkanu West LGA, the government offered no comfort and no immediate justice. Yet, the moment intelligence broke that federal law enforcement had begun apprehending suspected sponsors and perpetrators, government handlers sprinted to defend the accused,” the statement said.
The opposition party also accused the Mbah administration of imposing what it described as excessive financial pressure on residents while allegedly using state power against political opponents.
“This is a regime whose sole specialty is squeezing the suffering masses dry, relentlessly taxing the tiny incomes families struggle to scrape together… only to turn around and unleash state-backed violence on any opposition that gives the people a voice,” the party alleged.
The NDC further raised allegations concerning the Enugu State Attorney General, claiming that efforts were being made to silence a key witness who recorded video evidence of the attack.
The party identified the witness as Chidi Ezeani, whom it said captured footage of the incident and survived the physical assault.
“In a fresh, harrowing twist of criminal desperation, the very masterminds behind the Obuoffia bloodshed are attempting to eliminate crucial evidence by targeting the star witness, Chidi Ezeani, who courageously captured video evidence of the attack,” the NDC alleged.
The party further claimed that Ezeani had become the target of what it described as “weaponized state machinery” after surviving the attack.
The allegations come against the backdrop of the September 12, 2026, attack at an NDC ward meeting in Obuoffia Awkunanaw, where armed men suspected by the opposition party to be politically connected allegedly invaded the gathering and opened fire on members.
The NDC said the development took a controversial turn after suspected gunmen and alleged sponsors arrested in connection with the attack were released by police authorities in Enugu State and the Zone 13 Headquarters in Anambra State.
The party alleged that, instead of the suspected attackers remaining in custody, security authorities subsequently moved against a member who recorded the incident.
On October 5, 2026, 45-year-old NDC member Ani Samuel Chidi, whom the party also identified as Chidi Ezeani, was allegedly arraigned before Chief Magistrate Sir F. E. Chukwu at the Enugu East Magistrate Court in connection with Charge No. MEE/151c/2026.
According to the allegations, police brought three counts of criminal defamation and cybercrime against him under Section 24(2)(a) and (c)(i) of the Cybercrime Act.
The NDC claimed that the charges were connected to his uploading of video footage of the attack on social media platforms, including SaharaReporters.
Following his arraignment, the party said Chidi was remanded in prison custody, while the persons it accused of carrying out the shooting were no longer in custody.
The opposition party described the development as a serious threat to the preservation of evidence and accountability, alleging that prosecuting the person who documented the incident could discourage witnesses from coming forward.
The NDC called on Governor Peter Mbah to “let Ndi Enugu breathe” and urged the Nigeria Police Force to distance itself from what the party described as malicious prosecutions.
It also demanded an independent investigation into the September 12 violence, including the identities of those who allegedly organised, financed or participated in the attack.
The allegations by the NDC come amid heightened political tensions in Enugu, with the opposition party accusing the state government and security authorities of failing to adequately protect opposition members and instead turning legal and security machinery against them.
The state government and security authorities have, however, disputed aspects of the opposition’s account, particularly claims surrounding the arrest of suspected political thugs. The allegations of political sponsorship, state involvement and deliberate targeting of the witness remain matters requiring independent investigation and verification.