By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk
Fresh political tension has emerged in Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections, following allegations by a senior aide to former Deputy Senate President and APC chieftain, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, that recent attacks on political figures point to a growing climate of violence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Mr. Godwin Anaughe, condemned what he described as a violent attack on the Senior Special Assistant to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Hon. Temple Mudi, during a meeting of APC Delta Central leaders and stakeholders at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre in Effurun on Sunday.
According to Anaughe, the meeting was disrupted by armed thugs who allegedly attacked participants with stones, machetes and bottles, leaving Temple Mudi injured. He described the incident as “political thuggery” and warned that such violence could threaten the state’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Omo-Agege aide further linked the Effurun incident to an earlier attack on the governorship candidate of the New Delta Congress (NDC), Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, who was reportedly prevented by hoodlums from accessing his community in Agholokpe while on a political visit.
Anaughe alleged that the two incidents suggest a pattern of politically motivated violence and claimed there were plans to intimidate opposition figures and voters ahead of the next general elections. However, he did not provide evidence publicly to substantiate those allegations.
He called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into both incidents, identify those responsible, and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The statement also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations and the international community to closely monitor political developments in Delta State, particularly in Delta Central Senatorial District, ahead of the 2027 polls.
Reaffirming his principal’s commitment to peaceful democratic engagement, Anaughe said all political actors should reject violence and embrace issue-based campaigns capable of strengthening democracy.
As of the time of filing this report, the Delta State Government, the Delta State Police Command and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the statement. The claims also could not be independently verified by 9News Nigeria.
