Anambra PDP governorship candidate, Jude Ezenwafor Escapes Assassination Attempt in Abuja

RYNI Media: By Omotayo Stephen . O
20 July 2025

In a harrowing episode that underscores the deepening crisis of political violence in Nigeria, Chief Jude Ezenwafor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Anambra State, narrowly escaped death after a calculated assassination attempt in Abuja late Friday night.

The attack unfolded in the highbrow Wuse 2 district, a neighbourhood known more for its calm than chaos. Ezenwafor’s convoy was returning from what aides described as a “routine evening engagement” when unidentified gunmen launched a surprise assault, riddling his vehicle with bullets before vanishing into the night.

Witnesses reported the staccato burst of gunfire echoing through the streets, followed by the squeal of tires and the eerie silence that so often cloaks tragedy. “It was like something out of an action movie,” said a resident who lives a few blocks from the scene. “We heard gunshots—loud, rapid—and then nothing.”

Chief Ezenwafor was swiftly rushed to a private hospital under heavy security. Doctors say he sustained multiple gunshot wounds and underwent emergency surgery. Two members of his security detail were also injured in the attack and remain hospitalized. Though he sustained injuries but the PDP flag-bearer is reportedly stable and conscious.

Speaking briefly from his hospital bed in the early hours of Saturday, the visibly shaken politician recounted the ambush. “It was a near-death experience,” he said. “I was just heading home when we were attacked without warning. I’m currently in the hospital, and the doctors are preparing to operate to remove the bullets. It was clearly a deliberate attempt to eliminate me.”

Though the motive remains unconfirmed, analysts are already linking the assault to the rising tide of politically motivated violence as Nigeria hurtles toward the 2025 general elections. With no arrests yet made, the FCT Police Command has launched a manhunt for the assailants and promised a full-scale investigation.

The PDP wasted no time in condemning the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act of desperation” and warning that Nigerian democracy is under siege. Party officials have called for enhanced security for all political candidates and a firm response from law enforcement.

As tensions rise, the attempted assassination of Ezenwafor serves as a grim reminder of the dangerous path Nigerian politics is treading. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many Nigerians demanding justice and calling for reforms to protect candidates and voters alike.

Ezenwafor’s supporters, meanwhile, remain hopeful that this near-tragedy will not deter him from pursuing his political ambitions — but rather, embolden his resolve.

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