The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the Ebonyi State Government to connive with security agencies to arrest its candidates for the 2023 general elections, on Monday next week.
According to the party, the reason behind the plot is to ensure that candidates of the party in Ebonyi state were prevented from participating in the Match 11 general election.
The party stated this at a joint press conference organized by its stakeholders in Ebonyi, including Senator Dr. Emmanuel Onwe, the APGA Central Senatorial candidate and the Director, Media and Publicity, Odohzia Ebonyi Campaign Council for the APGA Governorship candidate, Prof. Benard Odoh, Mr Charles Otu.
Addressing newsmen, the Party’s Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi Central, Senator Onwe, expressed worry and disaffection over the myriads of attacks and assassination attempts made on the life of the APGA Governorship candidate by hoodlums in the State.
He condemned the development and urged security agencies to work assiduously towards curtailing the menace.
Onwe further sympathized with the families of the traditional ruler of Umuezeokoha autonomous community in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, who lost his life last Sunday.
According to him, “The oppression and harassments of the gubernatorial candidate of APGA is unacceptable. We have heard of the death of the monarch of Ezza North LGA. Some people have written a petition indicting the APGA Governorship candidate, who is innocent of such dastardly act.
“I want to sympathize with the APGA candidate. This is indeed a condemnable act, for people to try to rope Odoh in this case. Recall that on six different occasions, there have been attempts to assassinate him.
“My appeal to the people of Ebonyi Central and Ezza North is for them to remain calm. The IGP has been notified. And for those security agencies that want to eliminate him, they should desist from it.”
He pointed out that there were massive irregularities, ballot box snatching and monetary inducements that occasioned the February 25th, 2023, Ebonyi Central Senatorial election in the state.
He assured his supporters that the results of the election will be contested in court and his mandate reclaimed.
“The election was characterized by ballot ballot snatching, over voting even as INEC went ahead to announce the results. APGA candidates will do everything possible within the law to reclaim their mandate. On 11th march, we call on the Citizens of the State, to come out and vote for the liberation of Ebonyi State.”
Also speaking, Mr Charles Otu, who is the Director, Media and Publicity of the Odohzia Campaign council, alleged that the INEC in Ebonyi has been having secret meetings with the APC-led government in Ebonyi to perfect plans to rig next Saturday’s Governorship and State’s Houses of Assembly elections.
“We have it from reliable sources that the state government plans to arrest Prof Odoh and other key stakeholders of the party on Monday. They want to make sure they come up with all manner of allegations to perpetuate this move. And they have detailed security agencies to this and, we warn that the police and other security agencies in Ebonyi State should not be allowed to execute this plan,” Otu said.
However, while responding to the allegation, the Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko, who stated that APGA has boxed itself to a clannish corner, added that it was only the guilty that should be afraid.
“The problem with the party called APGA is that it is always overrating its relevance among political parties in the state. Why would anyone waste its time plotting against a party that has boxed itself to a clannish corner?
“Security agents do their job without government interference and thus cannot elicit connivance of any sort. They have been charged to do their job which we hope they will do without fear or favour. It is only the guilty that should be afraid,” he said.
