The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Ebonyi state on Thursday raised an alarm over alleged plot to attack and intimidate it’s Senatorial candidate, Ifeanyi Eleje by suspected thugs.
The leadership of the party made this known through in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki by the Director, Odohzia Ebonyi Campaign Council 2023, Samuel Agwu.
The Party alleges that there is a plot to attack, disrupt APGA campaigns in
Afikpo North local government area by thugs suspected to be loyal to council boss, Uchenna Ibiam.
The statement reads in part: “Ebonyi State on plot to disrupt APGA campaigns by the APC leaders in Afikpo North Local Government Area.
“The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Senatorial candidate, Ifeanyi Eleje
in the last election pulled over 12, 000 votes and winning his Afikpo North Local Government Area very convincingly. It was on the premise of the above-stated fact that the candidate decided to run again and Ebonyi APGA stakeholders also took a bold decision to maximally support his second bid to the Red Chambers.
“On Sunday, January 19th, the Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area, Mr. Uchenna Ibiam, rang one of Chief Eleje’s disciples. His instruction was clear and that is a warning that APGA should not hold any political rally within the LGA without first and foremost obtaining ‘clearance’ from him.
“The call was dreadfully suggestive that there is impending danger for the Party if it continues with the INEC directive that candidates of all the eight political Parties, contesting for the Ebonyi south bye-election, which grants them the liberty to proceed with their political campaigns for the bye-election” the party stated.
APGA leadership, however petitioned the security agencies and the independent national electoral commission, INEC, for an immediate intervention.
“We alert the electoral umpire, the Ebonyi State government, security agencies, Essa Ehugbo Ruling Council and indeed, the general public about the imminent threat to the official kick-off of campaigns by our Party’s candidate which is only in compliance to the directive of INEC.
“This is a period for campaigns that will even span for only less than two weeks to the election and APGA as a Party will not kowtow to the antics of any group of desperate politicians who may not be interested in convincing the electorates with reasons to garner their support but using brute force, threats, intimidations and even looming attacks or violence.
“we equally charge the security agencies to provide our candidate, Eleje with adequate security and ensure that he is not harmed in anyway” the statement added.
The Chairman of the Afikpo North LGA, Mr. Uchenna is yet to respond to the allegation at the time of filing this report.
