Agbani Disruption: Odaa Opuo Vows to Remain Undeterred, Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Politics

Chief (Dr.) Nweke Kingsley Chizoba, popularly known as Odaa Opuo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District in the 2027 elections, has declared that no amount of intimidation or disruption will deter him from pursuing his political ambition and engaging with the people.

Odaa Opuo made the declaration while addressing PDP supporters and residents of Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the reported destruction of campaign materials arranged for his scheduled engagement with the community.

The candidate reaffirmed his commitment to people-oriented leadership and effective representation at the National Assembly, stressing the need to raise the political consciousness of citizens and empower them to understand, participate in, and demand accountability from their elected representatives.

According to Odaa Opuo, basic infrastructure and essential public services, including roads, electricity and healthcare, should not be treated as political favours. He maintained that providing such services is part of the fundamental responsibility of government and should be approached as a matter of public duty rather than political patronage.

Reported Disruption at Campaign Venue

Earlier, before Odaa Opuo's arrival at the campaign venue, individuals reportedly identified by some party supporters as political thugs allegedly arrived at the location opposite the Police Area Command in Agbani.

The individuals were accused of destroying canopies, chairs and other materials that had been arranged for the meeting.

However, video recordings from the scene did not independently establish the identities of the individuals involved, their motives, or the circumstances surrounding the reported incident.

The PDP Chairman in Nkanu West, Hon. Chikezie Nnam (JAJA), reportedly alerted the Agbani Area Command following the incident, prompting security personnel to respond after the reported destruction had occurred.

Odaa Opuo Chooses Dialogue Over Confrontation

Rather than allowing the situation to escalate, Odaa Opuo proceeded with his scheduled programme and first paid a courtesy visit to the traditional rulers of Agbani.

The engagement with the traditional institution highlighted the importance of dialogue, peace and communal harmony, particularly during periods of heightened political activity.

The traditional rulers reportedly reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace in Agbani and expressed their willingness to address concerns arising from the incident.

Speaking to supporters, Odaa Opuo called for peaceful political participation, urging stakeholders to manage political differences through dialogue, tolerance and democratic engagement rather than confrontation.

Campaign Continues Despite Disruption

Despite the disruption to the initial arrangements, residents and PDP supporters reportedly turned out for the engagement.

The campaign subsequently proceeded, with supporters listening to the candidate's message and participating in the meeting.

Odaa Opuo reiterated that his leadership philosophy is centred on unity, service, accountability and people-oriented representation.

He maintained that political leadership should unite communities, promote sustainable development and ensure that citizens remain at the heart of governance.

Among those who accompanied him were Barr. Ebiem Patrick Chukwuma, PDP candidate for Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency; HRM Igwe Don Sylvester I of Ishi-Ozalla; PDP Deputy Chairman, Mr. Ambrose Edeh; and the Director-General of the Campaign, Hon. Prince S.E. Ogbodo.

The Agbani engagement ultimately proceeded despite the reported disruption, with Odaa Opuo and his campaign team reiterating their commitment to peaceful political participation and continued engagement with communities across Enugu East Senatorial District.

For the PDP campaign, the incident further underscored its position that political differences should never prevent citizens from freely participating in democratic activities or engaging with candidates seeking their mandate.

Odaa Opuo's message to his supporters remained one of determination: the campaign will continue to focus on the people, accountability, unity and effective representation ahead of the 2027 elections.

“No amount of intimidation will stop us. We will continue to engage our people peacefully and present our vision for effective representation and people-oriented leadership.”