The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the state government have clashed over allegations of illegal procurement of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The PDP accused the APC and the state government of fabricating allegations that its members were involved in illegal PVC procurement in an attempt to intimidate, harass, arrest and detain opposition members.

However, the APC and the state government dismissed the allegations as baseless, describing them as desperate claims by a weakening opposition.

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, PDP Publicity Secretary, Darlington Onwe, alleged that the state government and the APC were plotting to frame and criminalise members of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Onwe linked the alleged move to previous comments by Governor Francis Nwifuru, claiming that the governor had vowed to “consume” the PDP and other opposition parties in the state.

He maintained that the PDP was a law-abiding political organisation and had neither authorised nor condoned any activity capable of violating electoral laws or the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP spokesman rejected any attempt to link the party or its members to unlawful dealings in PVCs, alleging that the claims were being manufactured to justify a planned campaign of arrests and intimidation.

Onwe further warned that any attempt to arrest or detain PDP members based on what he described as fabricated allegations would violate their constitutional and human rights.

He also accused the state government and its supporters of previously deploying political thugs to disrupt a PDP gathering at Ikwuator, Idembia, in Ezza South Local Government Area.

According to him, journalists covering the event were attacked by suspected political thugs, while the vehicle conveying members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists was reportedly damaged.

He alleged that at least ten PDP supporters were also injured during the incident and received medical treatment.

Reacting to the allegations, Special Assistant to Governor Francis Nwifuru on Inter-Party Affairs, Sunday Nwambam, dismissed the PDP’s claims as spurious and unfounded.

Nwambam challenged the PDP to provide evidence to support its allegations, insisting that Governor Nwifuru remained committed to providing an enabling environment for political parties to operate in the state.

He said the governor believed that political pluralism should not be sacrificed for personal ambition and had demonstrated this commitment since assuming office.

Nwambam accused the PDP of engaging in what he described as “infantile politics” and alleged that the party was using the PVC controversy to create a pretext for its own plans to purchase voter cards ahead of the 2027 elections.

He maintained that claims of a plot by the state government to frame, arrest or detain PDP members over alleged PVC dealings were false, misleading and baseless.

The controversy comes as political parties in Ebonyi State begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with both the ruling APC and opposition parties intensifying their activities across the state.