House of Reps aspirant escapes death, 2 policemen injured in a shootout in Anambra

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By Madu Obi

An All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, House of Representatives aspirant for the 2027 election, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Ibezi, escaped death by the whiskers, while two policemen were seriously injured on Sunday at the Agbaja Abatete Civic Center in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State during a shootout at the venue of a political meeting convened to discuss the forthcoming primaries of the party.

The two injured policemen have been rushed to Iyienu Specialist Hospital, Ogidi and it was confirmed at press time that one of them is to undergo a surgery.

It was gathered that the meeting was convened as part of APGA's stakeholders engagement ahead of the forthcoming party primaries for the nomination of candidates for next year's general election.

Ibezi, who was a member of the ninth National Assembly, is staging a comeback after returning to APGA and he was said to be favoured to clinch the ticket.

There is still tension in the community, although some stakeholders spoken to said the meeting would still go on.

In an interview , Ibezi condemned the incident, which he described as a brazen act of violence and attempted assassination, adding that it was a direct assault on peace, democracy, and the rule of law in Idemili Federal Constituency.

He said: "Today, Sunday, April 26, 2026, at about 6:15 a.m., I received an urgent distress call that a group of armed men, claiming to be operatives of the local security outfit, Udogachi, had stormed the venue of the stakeholders’ meeting I had convened for today.

Their presence immediately created fear, tension, and a deliberate attempt to disrupt what was intended to be a peaceful and lawful gathering.

Upon arriving at the venue, accompanied by police officers assigned to provide security, I asked why they were there. Rather than offer any lawful explanation, the group became violently aggressive. They began firing gunshots into the air, issuing threats, and pointing weapons in the direction of both myself and the security personnel on duty.

In the light of the threatening public letter issued by the Mayor of Idemili North local government the previous day, it became unmistakably clear that this attack was a dangerous escalation of those earlier threats".

He said that in order to prevent loss of life and avoid further chaos, he withdrew from the scene while contacting the relevant security authorities, adding that surprisingly, the armed men continued their intimidation, firing sporadic gunshots and terrorizing everyone present.

He added: "In the most disturbing turn of events, one of the assailants fired directly in my direction. Unfortunately, the bullets struck two police officers on duty, leaving both wounded.

As efforts were made to evacuate the injured officers for urgent medical attention, the attackers blocked the exit route and delayed our departure through threats and hostile confrontation.

The two injured police officers have since been taken to hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment and one of them is to undergo a surgery."

Ibezi vowed that as a law-abiding citizen committed to democratic principles, he would pursue every legal means necessary to ensure that all those responsible—both sponsors and perpetrators — were brought to justice, stressing that no society can progress where political disagreement is answered with bullets, intimidation, and bloodshed.

He regretted that while Governor Chukwuma Soludo, is working tirelessly to secure lives and property across Anambra State, a local government Mayor appeared determined to drag communities in the area backwards through violence and lawlessness.

"I don't want to take laws into my hands. I allow the governor who is aware of this situation to take all the necessary steps to address this issue.

Let it be known clearly that intimidation has no place in democracy, and violence cannot silence the will of the people.

I am a law abiding citizen. Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution as amended gives every citizen the opportunity or privilege to engage in any place lawful assembly.

I have done everything humanly possible to get the Mayor on the phone and he has not returned my call. This thing happened after 6am and up till now, nobody has spoken to me, including the SA on security, who is in charge of Udogachi.

I just called the governor and he is trying to reach the Mayor. And according to the report I got from the Governor, his phone is not going, but the governor has left a message for him", Ibezi said.

Insisting that the stakeholders’ meeting will proceed at another venue, Ibezi warned that the collective resolve of the people of Idemili North and South Federal Constituency cannot be suppressed by acts of aggression.

"I wrote a letter to the critical stakeholders of Idemili North and South, to talk to them about my aspiration to return to the 11th National Assembly and all arrangements for this meeting are in place", he said.