BREAKING: APGA alleges plot to arrest Ebonyi candidates

The Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance has raised the alarm over a plot to arrest and prosecute its deputy governorship candidate, Nkata Chukwu; senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Ifeanyi Eleje; and others candidates.

APGA observed that it was not oblivious of the intimidation of its candidates in the 2023 general election and the destruction of their campaign billboards in the state.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Nwanchor Nwanchor, stated this in a statement on Monday.

The statement read, “The attention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in Ebonyi State has been drawn to an information peddled on the social media by some supporters of the All Progressives Congress-led government in Ebonyi State over their plan to attack the deputy governorship candidate of APGA, Dr. Nkata Chukwu.

“Also penned for similar attacks are the Ebonyi South Senatorial candidate, Ifeanyi Eleje; Mr. Charles Otu; and indeed, all the APGA candidates in Ebonyi South.

“However, we wish to let the state government and indeed the general public to know that we have heard and read from several online publications of the evil plan by the Umahi-led government and the unguarded public utterances by the core supporters of APC-led government to attack APGA candidates in Ebonyi South and other political parties in Ebonyi State.

“The APGA in Ebonyi State wish to let the state government to note the following:

“That we have taken much of their intimidations and destructions of APGA billboards and the violence against Ebonyi citizens since the inception of this current administration.

“That the incumbent government does not have the monopoly of violence as we will not fold our hands and watch our candidates, core supporters or even sympathisers being attacked in any way or form for merely exercising their civic and constitutional obligation of belonging to or peacefully participating in the political process in a democracy.

“Consequently, we have written to the Ebonyi State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aliyu Garba and indeed, other relevant security agencies in Nigeria over such an evil plan.

“That Ebonyi State belongs to all of us and a level playing ground should be given to all political parties in Ebonyi as INEC kicks off campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“We reiterate the call for the disbandment of Ebubeagu militia from participating in any process in any way or form in the activities leading to the 2023 general elections as recently directed by the Inspector General of Police.

“Ebonyi remains governed by the laws enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not a Banana Republic. The political actors of the ruling APC in the state led by Umahi must therefore play by the rules of the game.

“Finally, we call on the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to immediately call Umahi and his army of occupations to order. He should be held responsible for any attack on the underlisted and even for any breakdown of law and order in the Salt of the nation!”