• APGA accuses APC of threatening candidate
• ’Allegation false’
The senatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 3 by-election in Ebonyi State, Linus Okorie and the Chairman of Onicha Local Government, Chidiebere Uzor, have disagreed over alleged importation of political thugs from the Niger Delta ahead of the poll.
Okorie had during a reception in his honour in the area accused Uzor of bringing thugs from the Niger Delta to unleash mayhem on innocent voters ahead of the election.
He noted that the party had alerted security agencies to the plot by the chairman and his thugs to cause mayhem during the election and expressed regret that the same scenario played out during the general election last year.
Okorie warned youths against being used as thugs and expressed sadness that some politicians could never play politics without thuggery and violence.
Reacting, the Media Adviser to the council chairman, Prince Chijoke Agwu, described the allegation as false, urging the candidate to focus on his campaign “if he is actually campaigning for the by-election.”
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The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi State has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to disrupt its senatorial campaign slated to hold in Afikpo Local Government.
Director General of APGA’s Odohzia Campaign Council, Samuel Okporie, made the allegation in a statement yesterday.
He alleged threats by APC stalwarts to the lives of APGA’s senatorial candidate, Ifeanyi Eleje and party faithful if the campaign was to hold in the area.
According to Okporie, Eleje’s performance in last year’s election where he won the local government and garnered 12,000 votes is unsettling the APC.
He alleged that on January 20, a politician from the area, who is occupying an elective position in Ebonyi State, advised Eleje to opt out of the senatorial race in exchange for political settlement, as his candidature is unsettling nerves in the APC.
The Chairman of Afikpo Local Government, Mr. Ibiam, denied threatening the life of anybody.
He, however, noted that there is ban on the use of public places for rally without authorisation.
He said any political party that wanted to hold such rally in any public place must write to the council for permission.
Ebonyi South by-election comes up on February 3 in the five local governments of the zone.
The position became vacant following the resignation of Senator David Umahi due to his appointment as minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.