……Imo APGA Kicks Against Violence, Calls For Peaceful Polls
…….We Are Ready- INEC
Ibe Pascal Arogorn, OWERRI
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo, has alleged plot by the APC-led administration to disrupt voting in polling units across Ngor-Okpala on Saturday.
Emenike Nmeregini,
Imo PDPPublicity Secretary in a statement on Tuesday in Owerri said that APC has planned to station ten hoodlums per pooling unit, to perfect their plans of rigging the election.
PDP also alleged that APC planned to arrest and whisk away notable PDP leaders in the local government area just to ensure no one stands on their way to rigging the state constituency bye-election slated for Saturday in Ngor Okpala.
The statement reads, “the APC in Imo, realizing how unpopular it is and that it cannot win any peacefully conducted election, has now resorted to violence. The party candidate on Monday, 21st February, 2022 unleashed havoc on PDP supporters using hoodlums and militiamen and dispersed a PDP rally in Ntu community in Ngor-Okpala. They threatened to maim anybody who dares to attend the rally. But of course, Ntu people resisted them and came out in their hundreds”.
“The PDP notes with dismay the desperate move by Uzodinma to give ten bags of rice to each polling unit to entice the voters. We therefore condemn vote buying and undue inducement of voters in Ngor Okpala. It is unfortunate that the APC government which has brought untold hardship to lmo people, is trying to use food as a bait to catch votes. Ngor Okpala people are proud and hardworking, so their conscience cannot be bought with mere rice”.
“Imo PDP therefore, wishes to use this medium to alert the security agencies in the state of the atrocities the APC plans to perpetuate in Ngor-Okpala and calls on them to move in and ensure a hitch-free election and the security of lives and property of the people”.
“The PDP also uses this medium to call on the international community, civil society organisations and all lovers of peace and democracy to be at alert as APC plans to subvert the wishes of Ngor-Okpala people on Saturday, 26th February, 2022”.
“The PDP, though a peace loving political party, will resist all forms of intimidation on her leaders and teaming supporters in the coming days ahead, during and after the bye-election as no one has the monopoly of violence”.
“We call on Ngor-Okpala electorate to come out en masse on the day of election to collect their rice and money which are proceeds from our common patrimony, but vote PDP”, Nmeregini concluded.
MEANWHILE, The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Imo State, has said it is ready to conduct the February 26, 2022 bye election for Ngor Okpala State Constituency.
The Commission is conducting similar elections in six other states of the Federation.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Prof Francis Ezeonu, disclosed this when he hosted Exco members of National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Imo State chapter, at the Commission’s headquarters in Owerri.
He however noted that the electoral umpire in the State has been hit by some challenges such as burning of its offices in some local governments, insecurity and lack of adequate manpower.
Ezeonu made it clear that the Commission remains impartial, because it is not affiliated to any group or individual.
INEC is holding the Ngor Okpala bye election after the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Kennedy Ibe, declared the seat vacant after the member representing the Constituency, absconded from sitting.
In her remarks, the Chairman of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NWAOJ lmo state chapter,Mrs Dorothy Nnaji, PhD, has called on INEC to check the high rate of Voter apathy in the state.
ALSO, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Imo State chapter, has condemned in its entirety an attack said to have been carried out by some hoodlums against supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ngor Okpala LGA
PDP New Media Director, Mr. Collins Opurozor, had in a statement on Monday, alleged that Imo PDP campaign trail were ambushed and attacked by hoodlums who wielded assorted weapons at Ntu in Ngor Okpala.
He further claimed that members and supporters of the party sustained various degrees of injuries, and campaign vehicles smashed.
Reacting to the attack, Chairman, APGA in Imo State, Mr. John Iwuala, condemned the attacks, which he described as uncalled for, unacceptable and unnecessary.
He called for issues based campaigns which would afford the good people of Ngor Okpala the opportunity to make an informed choice at the bye elections.
Iwuala also sued for a peaceful election, devoid of manipulation from any quarters.
He however warned that APGA in Imo State would resist any attempt to attack its members or supporters ahead of the bye election.
“We would resist any attempt to attack our party members in Ngor Okpala. Anyone who unleashes violence on our members would be resisted and we would equally return violence for violence” he said
