The Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a thorough investigation into an incident involving security personnel attached to the convoy of Governor Francis Nwifuru following the circulation of a viral video on social media.

The video purportedly shows a confrontation between members of the governor’s convoy and occupants of a civilian vehicle along the Centenary City–Chiboy Motors axis of the Afikpo-Abakaliki Road.

According to available information, the incident occurred after a Toyota Camry reportedly collided with a motorcycle rider attached to the governor’s convoy, leaving the rider injured. The ensuing confrontation allegedly resulted in damage to the civilian vehicle.

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Reacting to the development, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Prince Darlington Peter Onwe, called on the Ebonyi State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

He urged security agencies to identify and interview those involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

The party also called on the Ebonyi State Government to provide clarification on the incident and disclose the identity and conduct of the security personnel involved.

In addition, the PDP urged relevant authorities to review the operational procedures and rules of engagement for security personnel attached to official convoys to ensure the safety of other road users.

Onwe said the party believes the public deserves a full account of what transpired and urged eyewitnesses and other persons with relevant information to cooperate with investigators.

Responding to the controversy, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, said “the viral video captured only part of the incident and did not present the complete sequence of events.”

He appealed to the public “to refrain from drawing conclusions until all the facts have been established.”

Oketa explained that official convoys, like ambulances, fire service vehicles and other emergency responders, are required to move swiftly in the interest of public safety and national security.

He noted that motorists are expected to comply with lawful traffic directives issued by police officers and convoy personnel to ensure the safe movement of official convoys and prevent accidents.

According to him, “Governor Francis Nwifuru remains committed to professionalism, respect for the rule of law and the protection of lives.”

He added that the circumstances surrounding the incident were being reviewed and urged road users “to remain patient, obey lawful traffic instructions and cooperate with emergency and security personnel in the interest of public safety.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially unveiled David Amapakaye Okumgba as its deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections in Rivers State.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Rivers State Chairman of the party, Chukwudi Dimgba, who confirmed that Okumgba will serve as the running mate to the party’s governorship candidate and former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson.

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In a statement issued to journalists, Dimgba described Okumgba as a seasoned politician with extensive leadership experience in both the political and private sectors, expressing confidence in his ability to help drive the party’s vision for the state.

According to the party, the Pidomson-Okumgba ticket represents competence, experience, inclusiveness and a shared commitment to delivering good governance, accountability, economic growth, security and equal opportunities for all residents of Rivers State.

The ADC chairman highlighted Okumgba’s political credentials, noting that he previously served as South-South Zonal Secretary and South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary of a major political party.

He also chaired the Appeal Committee for Senatorial Primaries in Edo State and had earlier contested for a seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The party said Okumgba’s political experience, organisational capacity, interpersonal skills and deep understanding of Rivers State’s political landscape make him an ideal choice to partner with Pidomson ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Dimgba stated that the party believes the governorship ticket reflects the aspirations of Rivers people and offers the leadership and integrity needed to move the state forward.

He called on party members, supporters and residents of the state to embrace the Pidomson-Okumgba ticket and join the ADC’s campaign to build what he described as a government that truly serves the people.

The Rivers ADC chairman also assured that under his leadership, the party would continue to unite its members, inspire public confidence and work towards building a better future for the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

Fresh controversy has erupted within the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) after the party’s South-East bloc accused its national leadership of attempting to impose candidates and delaying the release of outstanding primary election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group warned that any attempt to sideline candidates who emerged through transparent primaries could trigger internal unrest and weaken the party’s chances in the 2027 polls.

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Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the NDC South-East in the Federal Capital Territory, Maxwell Igbokwe, called on the party leadership to uphold internal democracy and ensure that only candidates who won lawful primary elections are submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, the continued delay in releasing the results of some primaries conducted over two months ago has raised concerns among party members and could deepen divisions within the opposition party.

“We call on the leadership of our party to uphold the NDC constitution, respect the outcome of a transparent and lawful primary process, and ensure that no individual is imposed on the people,” Igbokwe said.

He alleged that the House of Representatives primary for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory had been manipulated, adding that recent developments suggested attempts to bypass the democratic process.

The South-East bloc also referenced public comments reportedly made by the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, indicating that the House of Representatives ticket had been offered to activist Aisha Yesufu despite the fact that she neither purchased nomination forms nor declared interest in the contest.

The group further cited remarks allegedly made by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, claiming that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, personally appealed to Yesufu to accept the nomination, but she declined.

Igbokwe maintained that the reported sequence of events raises serious concerns about the credibility of the party’s nomination process.

“Our findings raise further concerns. We have reason to believe the party’s national leadership has been attempting to substitute or impose a candidate outside the established democratic process.

“If allowed to stand, such actions would undermine the credibility of our party, erode members’ confidence and violate the principles of fairness and due process on which the NDC was founded,” he said.

He stressed that the group’s intervention was aimed at protecting the party’s integrity and called on the leadership to resolve all outstanding primary disputes before the party concludes its candidate nomination process.

The controversy comes as INEC has granted the NDC access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to upload the names of candidates for the 2027 general election before the statutory deadlines.

Reacting to the allegations, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, dismissed claims of candidate imposition, insisting that the Electoral Act allows political parties to adopt consensus where necessary.

He argued that if irregularities are discovered after direct primaries, the party has the legal right to apply consensus in selecting its candidates.

Director also denied that the party had imposed any candidate, saying complaints from aggrieved members were being addressed fairly and that no confirmed case of candidate imposition had been brought to his attention.

He further dismissed claims that politicians who allegedly lost primaries were later included in the party’s list submitted to INEC, insisting that all issues were being handled in accordance with the party’s internal processes.