Political tension is mounting in Ebonyi State as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state government trade accusations over alleged attempts to procure Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The controversy followed allegations by the PDP that the state government and the APC were allegedly planning to fabricate PVC-related offences as a pretext to arrest, intimidate and harass members of the opposition party.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, PDP Publicity Secretary, Darlington Onwe, alleged that the development was part of a wider plot to suppress the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Onwe insisted that the PDP had neither authorised nor condoned any illegal dealings involving PVCs and warned against what he described as the weaponisation of security agencies against opposition members.
He also alleged that political thugs had previously attacked PDP supporters and journalists covering a party event in Ezza South Local Government Area, calling on security agencies to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
However, the state government dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Special Assistant to Governor Francis Nwifuru on Inter-Party Affairs, Comrade Sunday Nwambam, challenged the PDP to provide evidence to support its claims.
Nwambam said the administration remained committed to maintaining a conducive environment for all political parties to operate in the state, describing the PDP’s allegations as an attempt to create unnecessary political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.
He further accused the opposition party of allegedly preparing the ground for its own scheme to purchase PVCs and urged relevant authorities and residents to disregard what he described as unfounded claims.
Meanwhile, the state APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, alleged that some PDP members had already been arrested over the alleged purchase of PVCs.
Emegha claimed that individuals were allegedly going from house to house offering money in exchange for voters’ cards, describing such conduct as unlawful and capable of undermining the electoral process.
He questioned why anyone would surrender their PVC in exchange for money, stressing that voters should retain their cards and freely decide who to support during elections.
The rival claims have heightened political tension in Ebonyi as parties begin preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The allegations remain disputed, with the PDP demanding protection of opposition rights while the APC maintains that any genuine evidence of illegal PVC transactions should be investigated by the appropriate authorities.
