The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sternly condemned the attempted assassination of its Anambra State governorship candidate for the upcoming November 8 election, Jude Ezenwafor.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, issued a statement on Sunday calling for the arrest of those responsible for the attack and reaffirming the party’s resolve.
Ezenwafor was attacked by unidentified gunmen while returning from an engagement in Abuja.
The party claims that some desperate interests, threatened by Ezenwafor’s rising popularity, are attempting to undermine him.
The statement read in part, “After a critical analysis of the violent incident, the PDP believes that certain interests who, ostensibly being uncomfortable with the growing popularity of the PDP candidate ahead of the November election, are desperate to prevent him from participating in the coming poll.
“Our party has also been made aware of other plots by some anti-democratic elements in Anambra State to commence a series of smear campaigns against our candidate following the failure of the assassination plot.
“This attack on the PDP candidate is another sad commentary on the alarming level of insecurity in the country under the overtly insensitive, corrupt and abysmally rudderless All Progressives Congress administration.
“In any event, our clear message to the assailants and their sponsors is that they have and will continue to fail in their evil machinations as the PDP candidate is divinely destined. Our candidate enjoys the support of the people and will surely emerge victorious in the election.”
The party urged the Inspector General of Police to swiftly arrest the attackers and their sponsors and to strengthen security around its candidate ahead of the election.
The party further stated, “The PDP family urges Chief Ezenwafor not to be dispirited by the attack. The fact remains that Anambra State is home to the PDP, and no amount of attack, smear campaigns or propaganda will sway the resolve of our party, candidate and the people of Anambra State to elect a transparent, humane, people-orientated and result-driven administration on the platform of the PDP.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
