As the buildup for the Aba North/South federal constituency bye-election increases amidst rigorous campaign by all the parties involved, a political advocacy group; The Defenders of Democracy, (TDD), Abia Chapter said they have discovered plots to distort the election billed for March 27th, 2021.
The group, in a press statement signed by Dr George Njoku, President; Hon Chukwuma Onyeze, Secretary and Comrade Kalu O Kalu, Publicity Secretary respectively, said their position is informed by their findings after series of political meetings by some political actors in the state.
“Information reaching us from various meetings held in Abuja, Umunneochi, Igbere and Aba indicate that the plot include hiring hoodlums from outside and within the state who will be dressed in military uniforms that will be supplied by a former Army Chief who incidentally is one of the conspirators and also attended the meeting in Igbere and Aba at the Aba GRA residence of a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
They advised the security agents not to take their information with levity but beef up security before, during and after the election.
The full statement reads:
Press Statement
Following credible information reaching us from impeccable sources and our own independent findings, we wish to bring to the notice of the relevant authorities and the general public that we have uncovered plots by some unscrupulous and desperate Abia politicians to hire hoodlums from within and outside the state to unleash mayhem on citizens, INEC officials and security agents charged with protecting the electoral system during the forthcoming Aba North/South Federal Constituency election of Saturday 27th March 2021.
Information reaching us from various meetings held in Abuja, Umunneochi, Igbere and Aba indicate that the plot include hiring hoodlums from outside and within the state who will be dressed in military uniforms that will be supplied by a former Army Chief who incidentally is one of the conspirators and also attended the meeting in Igbere and Aba at the Aba GRA residence of a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We wish to use this medium to inform President Muhammadu Buhari and the security establishments in Abuja and Abia State to take note and take the necessary measures needed to protect innocent voters and INEC officials from desperate politicians who see election as a do or die affair as we are aware that the conspirators intend to bring in the hoodlums on Friday and camp them at two locations we are already aware of in Aba.
The kernel of the plot is to use the fake army officers and hoodlums to unleash mayhem and scare away voters to allow room for the already prepared results of the election that favors a particular candidate to be released in active connivance with a designated Returning Officer from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, whose name has been submitted to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia State from Abuja.
Let it be known by the plotters that our group has recorded audio and video of their various meetings and will deploy election monitors with cameras across the federal constituency to report events before, during and even after the election as part of our social responsibility to ensure the deepening of democracy in Nigeria.
This information of ours should not be taken for granted or treated with levity as the actors involved have shown sufficient capacities to maim and kill in their desperate bid for power as recently confessed by one of them who was a former Governor and has his brother contesting in the election.
We trust the security agents to be up to their responsibilities and prevent a repeat of the violence that happened in Ekiti just last week during the conduct of a similar election.
Signed:
Dr George Njoku – President
Hon Chukwuma Onyeze – Secretary
Comrade Kalu O Kalu – Publicity Secretary
For and on behalf of
The Defenders of Democracy, (TDD) Abia chapter
