Anambra bye-election: LP national assembly caucus accuses APGA of planning to unleash thugs on opposition parties *APGA: They are the ones planning to cause mayhem

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By Madu Obi

The Anambra State Labour Party, LP, caucus in the National Assembly, has expressed grave reservations over alleged moves by the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to deploy non-state security personnel in tomorrow's bye elections in the state.

But the APGA national publicity secretary, Dr Ejimofor Opara retorted, insisting that LP lawmakers are the ones planning to cause mayhem in Onitsha during the election, even when the party has no candidate for the bye-election.

The bye-elections are for the Onitsha North 1 State Assembly seat and the Anambra South senatorial zone.

In a statement issued in Awka, the Anambra State capital, the LP caucus, which comprises two senators and six House of Representatives members, called on the nation's security chiefs to assist the Nigerian Police in providing a serene atmosphere for the citizenry to vote in the elections without fear of molestation.

The statement read: "Information at our disposal indicates that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had concluded plans to deploy men of the state's security outfit, Udogachi, crude revenue enforcers, popularity known as ndi Aka odo and sundry non-state actors to take over the various voting points for the bye elections."

The plan, the caucus said, is to use these state government-controlled agents to scare away prospective voters not aligned to APGA from the polling units.

"In an election where candidates of APGA are major contenders, it would be foolhardy to allow the Governor to take charge of security arrangements, especially as that would confer undue advantage on his party.

We, therefore, call on the nation's top security architecture, especially the National Security Adviser, NSA, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding(GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, and others to fully deploy their personnel, so as to restore voter confidence in the election, as well as protect the lives of those involved in the process.

The whole essence of democratic governance revolves around freedom of choice, made possible by free and fair elections. Tomorrow's Anambra bye-elections, like several in some other states of the federation, is a litmus test on our country's readiness to ensure that the votes of Nigerians not only count, but are peacefully counted in order to arrive at an acceptable outcome.

In order to achieve this goal, therefore, the process cannot be skewed to favour any particular individual, be him a governor, or not.

For the case of Onitsha North Constituency 1, we are shocked to the bone marrow the level of desperation of Governor Soludo and APGA- led state government against a widow whose husband was kidnapped and killed as then sitting member representing the constituency.

We also make haste to point out that, as an off-season election, the attention of all participants, including candidates, political parties, local and foreign observers, and of course, the media, would be focused on the process.

As a people, we must therefore strive to ensure that everyone plays by the rules," the statement added.

The statement was signed by Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Tony Nwoye, Hon. George Ozodinobi, Hon. Afam Ogene, Hon. Emeka Idu, Hon. (Prof) Lilian Orogbu, Hon. Peter Anekwe and Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo.

However, reacting on LPs allegation, the APGA national publicity secretary, Opara, said the people of Anambra State know those who are planing to foment trouble during the bye-election.

He say: "We don't have Labour Party in this state. These are opportunists who are just clutching on straws.

We know those who are planing to cause mayhem in Onitsha. They are just crying wolves. It's actually what they are planning to do and we have a credible information that they are the ones planning to distort the will of the people.

They know that they have an unpopular candidate and they know that APGA is on ground as far as Anambra is concerned. So they are only trying to whip up sentiment that would create the groundwork for them to unleash their mayhem in Onitsha.

But we are ready for them. We are ready for a free, fair, credible election and we are mobilizing our people. As a matter of fact everyone who had seen our candidate knows that she is credible.

We have been campaigning from ward to ward, while they only had a flag off. They are looking for who to blame for their imminent failure because they are not on ground. In fact that party does not exist anymore. Who is even their candidate in the bye-election?"