PDP Candidate Escapes Death As Hoodlums Attack Residence

The Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Izzi/Abakaliki Federal Constituency candidate, Mr. Barnabas Ofoke, yesterday escaped death as some assailants suspected to be political thugs early yesterday attacked his residence.

The attackers according to the spokesman of the party, Mr. Chika Nwoba destroyed cars and other property at his residence.

Mr. Nwoba accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State of being responsible for the attack.

He alleged that the compound of Mr Ofoke where the house was located was designated as the venue for the PDP governorship rally in the local government but regretted that the attack was carried out a few hours before the proposed rally.

“Today is the PDP governorship campaign rally in Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State. Yesterday by 2 o’clock in the night, thugs working for the APC invaded the compound of the PDP candidate for Izzi/Abakaliki Federal Constituency, Hon. Barnabas Ofoke and shattered the house, vehicles and sent occupants away. 

“This was the compound the campaign was meant to hold since the APC governorship candidate and Gov. Umahi declared no open space for PDP in the LGA”. 

“This is the LGA of the APC governorship candidate. The father of the PDP House of Representatives candidate whose house was destroyed as shown here was the political godfather of Francis Nwifuru and still alive.”, Mr Nwoba said.

The APC and the governorship candidate, Francis Nwifuru however denied having a hand in the attack.

A member of the party’s media team and an aide to Governor David Umahi, Brutus Orogwu said the incident was self inflicted by the PDP.

He said the PDP staged the said attack in an attempt to tarnish the image of the APC and its governorship candidate , Francis Nwifuru who hails from the area.

The director of New Media of the APC Campaign Council and state spokesperson of APC, Simbad Ogbuatu, also debunked the accusation.