The alleged victims are Mr Jerry Ogar, Secretary of PDP Urban 1 Ward, and Mr Austin Imong, Chairman of Alege Ubang Ward, all in Obudu LGA.
By Frank Ulom
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Published on November 13, 2026
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3 min read
Political thugs suspected to be associated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) have allegedly attacked leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State.
According to a statement by Prof. Zana Media Team, the reported attack was on ward leaders in Obudu Local Government Area of the state.
The alleged victims are Mr Jerry Ogar, Secretary of PDP Urban 1 Ward, and Mr Austin Imong, Chairman of Alege Ubang Ward, all in Obudu LGA.
In a press statement issued on Friday, November 13, 2026, the media team said the two party officials alleged that they were attacked and questioned over their decision to remain in the PDP rather than defect to the APC alongside the former PDP State Chairman.
According to accounts contained in a video circulating on social media, the victims also alleged that their continued support for Prof. Zana Akpagu, PDP candidate for Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency, contributed to the intimidation.
Describing the allegations as troubling, the media team said no Nigerian should be threatened, intimidated or attacked for exercising the constitutional right to belong to or support a political party of their choice.
It stressed that political defection should remain a personal decision and should not be imposed through threats or violence.
“Democracy is built on freedom of association, tolerance and respect for differing political opinions. Defection is a personal decision, not a compulsory exercise. Nobody should be forced, through threats or violence, to abandon their political beliefs or affiliations,” the statement said.
Emphasising the need for peaceful political participation, the team declared: “Election is not war! Politics should not be a death sentence!”
It further maintained that Prof. Zana Akpagu’s political participation should not be used as justification to threaten, harass or intimidate individuals who choose to associate with him.
The media team consequently called on the Chairman of Obudu Local Government Area to take the allegations seriously and ensure that peace and political tolerance prevail across the area.
It also urged the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obudu to urgently investigate the reported incident, examine the video evidence, identify those allegedly involved and take appropriate lawful action.
The statement further appealed to community leaders, political stakeholders and residents to condemn political violence and discourage actions capable of creating tension, division and insecurity.
It also called on relevant security authorities to investigate objectively the individuals whose names were mentioned in the video by the alleged victims, without prejudice.
The team said Obudu, Bekwarra and Obanliku deserved an atmosphere of peace and unity where residents could freely participate in the democratic process without intimidation.
“Our political differences should never destroy our brotherhood. We may belong to different political parties, but we remain one people with a shared future,” it added.
The statement urged residents to respect one another’s political choices, insisting that everyone should be free to belong to any political party and support their preferred candidates.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the statement did not indicate whether a formal police complaint had been lodged or whether the police had commenced an investigation.
