Desperation is now the name of the game
in Anambra State as the clock ticks for the November 16 governorship
election with the discovery of a hideout in Awka, the state capital,
where security agents’ uniforms were being allegedly secretly sewn.
The hideout was said to have been uncovered two days ago by two members of the public.
The fake uniforms found in the place
were said to include those of the police, Nigerian Security and
Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Director General of the Ngige Campaign
Organisation, George Muoghalu, said of the strange find: “We wish to
draw your attention to an intelligence report which revealed many of
these evil plots. You will recall that less than two weeks ago it was
reported in the media that the Deputy Inspector General of Police
Operations, Mr. Lar, raised an alarm that some candidates were sewing
police, NYSC and Civil Defence uniforms with the intent to unleash
mayhem and disrupt the election.
“Senator Chris Ngige Campaign
Organisation can further confirm that indeed it is true and in fact fake
corpers, fake policemen and fake Civil Defence officials are being
imported into Anambra State and camped in certain locations.
“We are equally aware that the aim of
this grand design is to use these fake law enforcement officers to
unleash mayhem in specific areas where Senator Chris Ngigie is
particularly very strong and victory–bound.
“Some of the areas targeted by these
desperate politicians are Idemili North and South Local Governments
where Dr. Chris Ngigie hails from, Ogbaru Local Government, Onitsha
North and South and Nnewi North Local Government Areas, and some other
places.”
Ngige is the governorship candidate of All Progressives Party (APC) for the Saturday poll.
But the state Police Public Relations
Officer (PPRO), Emeka Chukwuemeka, told Daily Independent that the use
of fake uniforms cannot work in the election process.
He added that the police command has put measures in place to identify and arrest people with fake uniforms.
Chukwuemeka also said with the number of
policemen that would be deployed to Anambra State it would be difficult
for any impostor to have his way on the election day.
Ngige’s campaign chief, Muoghalu, also
spoke on the Adoration Ground tragedy that claimed about 25 lives at Uke
two weeks ago, saying the video clips which Governor Peter Obi and the
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman, Victor Umeh,
claimed had supporters of Ngige carrying posters on night of the
incident “has shown that no such thing happened and that the duo lied.”
“Yes indeed their infamous claim has
turned out to be a blatant lie, as the video of that tragic and
unfortunate black night has clearly shown that there were no groups of
Ngige supporters positioned anywhere at the Adoration Ground, wearing
his campaign uniforms, carrying his posters or waving brooms as they
claimed.
“What we have seen in the video as we
told you last week remains spontaneous booing and general disapproval by
the worshippers against Governor Obi’s insistence to turn their prayer
gathering into a campaign rally for his lapdog, Willie Obiano.
“The video of the Adoration Night where
the APGA train campaigned is now available for whoever cares to view it
and be the judge.
“And as we also said last week, Anambra
people should hold Governor Peter Obi, Chief Victor Umeh and APGA
candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, responsible for the avoidable deaths of
these innocent ones who had gone to the Ebube Muonso Adoration to seek
the face of God over their suffering from APGA mis-governance and
mismanagement of the Anambra State resources,” Muoghalu added.
The national leadership of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) also on Monday accused those it described as
desperate politicians within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and
APGA of plotting to rig Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra
State.
An it warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to allow itself to be used to carry out such plan.
In a statement by its Interim National
Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party listed some of the rigging
strategies as disenfranchisement of voters, especially in opposition
strongholds; massive thumb-printing of ballot papers in secret
locations; sloppy accreditation process; late or non-delivery of voting
materials to opposition strongholds and the use of the police and other
security agencies to intimidate voters.
The party described the strategies as
“old tricks which INEC should be very well aware of, if indeed the
electoral body is keen on delivering a free, fair and transparent
elections on Saturday”.
‘’There are plans to use several secret
locations, including Ogidi, for massive ballot paper thumb-printing, and
it is an open secret that some of these locations are being fortified
for secrecy.
“Plans are also afoot to foist a sloppy
accreditation exercise on voters by muddling up names and photographs of
voters in such a way that most voters will be disenfranchised.
‘’Also, areas where the APC candidate is
strongest will either be starved of voting materials or will not even
receive such materials at all, while the police – which is fast becoming
the armed wing of the PDP – as well as other security agents will be
used to harass and intimidate voters.
‘’These are some of the evil strategies
which the riggers are counting upon on Saturday. This is the same game
plan that the PDP used to rig the Delta Central senatorial election last
month, with the collusion of some dirty INEC officials,’’ APC said.
It warned, however, that the people of
Anambra will not allow a replay of such electoral heist and unmitigated
brigandage, neither will the APC condone any action that will not ensure
a level playing field for all candidates at the poll.
The party also warned INEC, the police
and other security forces to restrict themselves to their constitutional
roles during the election, instead of working in cahoots with do-or-die
politicians.
‘’We will expose, challenge and shame
all those who are bent on ruining the forthcoming elections in Anambra,
using our own counter-measures,” APC added.
Meanwhile, a group, Anambra North
People’s Congress (ANPC), has endorsed APGA candidate, Willie Obiano, as
the candidate that will guarantee a dignified future for people of the
state.
In a statement in Abuja on Monday ANPC
President Anthony Okeke, stated: “It is with justifiable pride and
honour that we endorse Willie Obiano to build on the sound foundations
Governor Peter Obi laid for rapid, integrated and accelerated
socio-economic development of Anambra State.”
Source: DailyIndepent Newspaper
No comments:
Post a Comment