Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have strongly condemned the alleged assassination attempt on their Anambra State governorship candidate, Chief Jude Ezenwafor, which occurred late Friday, July 18, in Abuja’s Wuse 2 district.

Ezenwafor, a prominent real estate developer turned flagbearer of the PDP for the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election, was reportedly ambushed as he returned home from an appointment. Gunmen opened fire on his vehicle, leaving him with multiple bullet wounds. He was swiftly admitted to a private hospital in Abuja, where surgeons are preparing to remove the bullets from his body.

Two individuals traveling with Ezenwafor were also injured in the attack and are receiving medical attention. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Speaking from his hospital bed early Saturday, Ezenwafor described the ordeal as a “near-death experience,” confirming that doctors are working to extract bullets lodged in his body.

PDP officials have publicly accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the attack. They described the attempt on Ezenwafor’s life as a politically motivated act, alleging that it was intended to intimidate opposition candidates and undermine the integrity of the upcoming election.

Although the APC has yet to formally respond to these allegations, the PDP pledges to pursue full accountability. In a related outburst, PDP senatorial aspirant Hon. Prince Chinedu Nsofor (Anambra South) condemned the attack as “an assault not only on a person but on democracy itself,” calling on President Tinubu’s administration to overhaul national security infrastructure.

This incident joins a disturbing list of political violence ahead of the 2025 elections. The PDP and other observers warn of mounting security threats targeting opposition figures and elected officials. Just last week, PDP’s Nsofor survived a kidnapping attempt in Kogi State, intensifying fears across the political spectrum.

With the Anambra governorship election less than four months away, this attack underscores deepening concerns over electoral safety and political intimidation.

Ezenwafor’s surgical teams in Abuja are preparing bullet-extraction procedures to ensure his stability and recovery. The FCT police have initiated investigations, and pressure is mounting on federal agencies to accelerate arrests and provide security assurances to all candidates. The PDP plans to escalate the matter, publicly challenging the APC and ramping up calls for electoral reforms and independent security oversight.

Anambra State is pivotal in Southeast Nigerian politics, and the governorship contest is highly prized. An attack on a major party’s flagbearer not only heightens election tensions but also threatens Nigeria’s democratic institutions. The response from government agencies, especially in investigating the incident and ensuring candidate safety, may profoundly shape perceptions of electoral credibility.