Ebonyi bye-election: APGA raises alarm over alleged plot to attack, intimidate its senatorial candidate, Eleje

The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Ebonyi State on Thursday, raised the alarm, over an alleged plot to attack and intimidate its senatorial candidate, Ifeanyi Eleje, by suspected thugs.

The party made this revelation in a statement signed and released to the press in Abakaliki by the Director of the Odohzia Ebonyi Campaign Council, Samuel Agwu.

According to the statement, there is an alleged plot to disrupt APGA campaigns in Afikpo North local government area by thugs loyal to the council boss, Uchenna Ibiam.

The statement reads, “Ebonyi State on the 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 won his Afikpo North Local Government Area convincingly. Based on this fact, the candidate decided to run again, and Ebonyi APGA stakeholders also took a bold decision to support his second bid to the Red Chambers maximally.

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“On Sunday, January 19, the Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area, Mr. Uchenna Ibiam, called one of Chief Eleje’s disciples. His instruction was clear, warning that APGA should not hold any political rally within the LGA without first obtaining ‘clearance’ from him.

“The call suggested impending danger for the party if it continues with the INEC directive that allows candidates of all eight political parties contesting for the Ebonyi south bye-election to proceed with their political campaigns for the bye-election,” the party stated.

APGA’s leadership has petitioned security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for 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 with the directive of INEC.

“This is a period for campaigns that will span for only less than two weeks to the election, and APGA, as a party, will not succumb to the antics of any group of desperate politicians who may not be interested in convincing the electorates but use brute force, threats, intimidations, or 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 any way,” the statement added.

The Chairman of Afikpo North LGA, Mr Uchenna Ibiam, is yet to respond to the allegations, as he was not picking up calls at the time of filing this report.