Four persons, including an uncle of his, are believed to have been killed on Saturday evening, after unknown gunmen opened fire and raided the Akokwa, Imo State country home of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency and spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
Allegations are flying in the air that the gunmen are assasins after the candidate, but the attackers are said to have set his house and vehicles within his premises on fire.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cried out over the fate of its member, and tacitly pointed accusing fingers for the attack in the direction of the state government and its operatives.
In a statement, the party said: “Imo PDP alerts security agencies, Nigerians, international community about sponsored killings, arson going on at the Akokwa residence of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, PDP candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency
“This has resulted in the killing of an undisclosed number of persons. Also, buildings are reported to have been set ablaze.
“Our efforts to get back to our candidate, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who was present at his residence when this attack began and who had personally alerted us to the attack, has proven abortive. However, a torrent of messages, a while ago, from Ikenga’s close aides bore some deeply pathetic lines like: “Everywhere is on fire! They are killing us! We are going!”
“Imo PDP calls on security agencies to immediately intervene and quell the attack on our candidate and our Party members at his residence in Akokwa.
“Nigerians and the international community are to recall that on December 23, 2022, there was an attack on the convoy of our candidate by clearly-identified agents of the Imo State Government.
“It is shocking that despite our demand for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in that onslaught, nothing has been done by security till this moment. Today represents a dark day for us in Imo PDP and Imo State at large.”