By CHARLES IWUOHA

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ebonyi State Chapter, Mr Abia Onyike, has charged Ebonyi residents to hold Governor David Umahi responsible for the continuous killings and attacks on prominent citizens by Ebubeagu security outfit against members of opposition political parties in the state.

The political situation in Ebonyi State has degenerated lately.

Onyike, the Director, Media and Publicity of PDP Governorship campaign council, in a statement condemned in strong terms the latest attack on Senator Sam Egwu, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District.

According to the statement, the road to Senator Ngele's house was suddenly blocked by EbubeAgu Security, Gov. Umahi's militia group which engages in dirty political jobs in the state.

"It was later on the faithful night, that the EbubeAgu chaps returned to Senator Ngele's house and started shooting sporadically with their AK-47 and pump actions assault riffles.

"We also regret to recall that on Wednesday, 1st February 2023, Dr. Sam Egwu successfully held a rally at Obegu Abba in Ebonyi LGA. At the end of the rally, Senator Egwu left the venue only for gunmen to invade the home of the PDP Chairman in the council area, Mr. Michael Nwebonyi. They started shooting intensively for more than twenty minutes. Properties were vandalized and several people were wounded as they scampered for safety while others ran into the bush."

The statement further stated that two days ago, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Odoh was ambushed at Okpoto by Umahi's militia where his convoy was subjected to a volley of bullets.

"Professor Odo luckily escaped unhurt. But his driver was instantly murdered, and his backup vehicles were set ablaze.

Continuing, the statement said the spate of politically-motivated killings in Ebonyi has become unbelievable, adding that it's in order to stop the Governorship ambition of a son of the soil, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.

"Umahi's desperados are believed to be behind the spate of killings and disappearances in Isu, Onicha LGA where over 6 persons including the bodyguard of the governorship candidate were killed. What a horrible scenario!

The statement alleged that Umahi has never hidden his disdain for a level playing field in a democratic system of Government, believing that only the ruling party should be permitted to hold sway during elections and campaigns.

"This obnoxious political mentality led him to take some strange and terrible steps, such as the introduction of an Executive Order banning the use of public schools for Campaign Rallies by opposition parties.

The opposition party called on the Presidency, National Security Agencies and the National Assembly to intervene in the Ebonyi debacle, saying that Gov Umahi should be pressurized to return to the path of peaceful transition in Ebonyi state which will usher in free and fair elections and preservation of human lives in the state.