By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State have disagreed over allegations of illegal procurement of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the PDP accused the state government and APC of plotting to frame, arrest and intimidate its members under the guise of investigating illegal PVC dealings, the APC and the government dismissed the allegation as baseless and challenged the opposition party to provide evidence.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Darlington Onwe, who addressed journalists in Abakaliki, alleged that the purported plan was part of a wider plot to criminalise members and officials of the opposition party.
Onwe said the PDP had received information that allegations of illegal procurement of PVCs would be fabricated against its members as a pretext to arrest and detain them.
He linked the alleged plot to Governor Francis Nwifuru’s earlier comment about “consuming” the PDP and other opposition parties in the state, describing the development as an attempt to suppress political opposition ahead of 2027.
The PDP spokesman maintained that the party was a law-abiding organisation and had neither authorised nor condoned any action capable of violating the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines or other laws.
He also alleged that political thugs had previously attacked journalists and PDP supporters during a party event at Ikwuator, Idembia, in Ezza South Local Government Area.
According to him, about 10 journalists travelling in a branded vehicle to cover the event were attacked by suspected political thugs, while the vehicle was allegedly pelted with stones and other objects.
He added that several PDP supporters were injured during the incident.
Reacting, the Special Assistant to Governor Nwifuru on Inter-Party Affairs, Sunday Nwambam, described the PDP’s allegations as “spurious and unfounded.”
Nwambam said the governor remained committed to allowing political parties to operate freely in the state, insisting that the PDP was merely “playing infantile politics” and attempting to create an excuse for a scheme to buy PVCs ahead of the 2027 election.
He challenged the PDP to provide evidence of any alleged plan by the government to arrest or detain its members.
The APC State Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, however, alleged that some PDP members had already been arrested over alleged purchase of PVCs.
Emegha said the arrests followed a petition concerning a person allegedly sent to buy voters’ cards from residents, including elderly women.
He questioned the rationale behind paying people to surrender their PVCs, arguing that voters should retain their cards to enable them to exercise their franchise freely.
The APC chairman maintained that there was no justification for anyone to pay voters N5,000 in exchange for their PVCs, describing such conduct as an attempt to manipulate the electoral process.
The development has further heightened political tension between the ruling APC and opposition PDP in Ebonyi ahead of the 2027 general elections.