A notable disagreement has emerged in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, between the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) regarding allegations of arrest and intimidation of opposition figures. The ADC leadership, specifically the state chairman Comrade Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor and national financial secretary Hon. Muhammad Akibu Dahaltu, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of harassing, intimidating, and arresting their members. These accusations were made public during a Leadership Summit organized by the ADC and the National Coalition Alliance (NCA) held in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.

According to the ADC officials, six of their members were arrested by unidentified persons shortly before the commencement of the summit and were subsequently taken to the Police. They were later released following the intervention of various stakeholders. The one-day summit, originally scheduled to take place at the People’s Club in Abakaliki, was reportedly disrupted by these unidentified individuals, forcing the event to be relocated to Akadike Suite, Abakaliki. Adibe-Nwafor criticized Governor Nwifuru for allegedly failing to uphold his promise of providing a level playing field for all political parties in the state, noting that opposition parties now face harassment from the government. Dahaltu echoed these sentiments, asserting that intimidation has become a common tactic for APC-led governments, citing similar incidents in other states and expressing public dissatisfaction with the APC's performance over the past eight years.

In response to these serious claims, Governor Nwifuru, through his special assistant on Inter-Party Affairs, Comrade Sunday Nwanbam, vehemently denied any involvement of the state government or security operatives in the alleged attacks. Nwanbam stated that there has been no political crisis in Ebonyi State since the 2023 general elections, attributing this peace to Governor Nwifuru's calm and inclusive approach. He emphasized that the government does not discriminate against any political party, including APC, PDP, Labour Party, or ADC, and asserted that all parties are working cooperatively within the state.

Nwanbam further urged political parties to conduct their operations peacefully and to inform security agencies when organizing meetings, reiterating that the government was entirely unaware of the alleged attack and had not received any formal report. He stressed that the government's primary responsibility is to protect the interests of the Ebonyi people and highlighted that neither he nor the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) chairman received prior notification of the ADC's meeting or the alleged incident. He concluded by advising opposition parties to maintain an official office address for better communication and coordination, reinforcing Governor Nwifuru’s administration's commitment to fostering peace and inclusivity across the political spectrum.