By Emegwoako C. Paschal
The All Progressives Grand Alliance’s chapter in Ebonyi State has expressed concern over a plot to detain and prosecute Nkata Chukwu, a candidate for deputy governor, Ifeanyi Eleje, a candidate for the Ebonyi South senate seat, and other candidates.
APGA stated that it was aware of the state’s destruction of its campaign billboards and intimidation of its candidates in the general election of 2023.
Nwanchor Nwanchor, the party’s publicity secretary in the state, on Monday, October 17 said;
“The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in Ebonyi State has been made aware of information being circulated on social media by some supporters of the All Progressives Congress-led government in Ebonyi State regarding their plot to attack the deputy governorship candidate of the APGA, Dr. Nkata Chukwu.
“Mr. Charles Otu, the candidate for the APGA in Ebonyi South, Ifeanyi Eleje, and all other candidates are also listed for similar attacks.
“However, we want to inform the state government and the general public of the evil plan by the Umahi-led government and the careless public statements made by the core supporters of the APC-led government to attack APGA candidates in Ebonyi South and other political parties in Ebonyi State, which we have heard and read from several online publications.
“The APGA in Ebonyi State wishes to make the following observations to the state government:
“That since the beginning of this current administration, we have taken much of their intimidation, destruction of APGA billboards, and violence against Ebonyi citizens.
“That the current administration does not have the monopoly on violence because we will not sit idly by while our candidates, core supporters, or even sympathizers are attacked in any way or form for simply fulfilling their civic and constitutional duty to be a part of or participate peacefully in a democracy’s political process.
“In light of this evil plan, we have written to Mr. Aliyu Garba, the Commissioner of Police for the Ebonyi State, as well as other pertinent security agencies in Nigeria.
“That Ebonyi State belongs to all of us, and as INEC launches its campaigns ahead of the general elections in 2023, all political parties in Ebonyi should be treated equally.
“We once again demand that the Ebubeagu militia be disbanded and prohibited from taking part in any process leading up to the general elections in 2023, as recently ordered by the Inspector General of Police.
“Ebonyi is still governed by the laws spelled out in the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, not like a banana republic. Therefore, it is imperative that all political participants in the state under Umahi’s leadership follow the law of the game.
“Finally, we urge Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, to summon Umahi and his army of occupations to order right away. Any assault on the unlisted should be considered his fault, as should any breakdown of law and order in the nation’s Salt! ”
