Anambra by-election: Soludo plans to unleash thugs on opposition parties – LP lawmakers cry

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Labour Party lawmakers representing Anambra State in the National Assembly have raised concerns about potential security threats in the upcoming by-elections scheduled for Saturday. The elections are being held to fill the seats left vacant following the killing of two lawmakers from the state—one in the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency and the other in the Anambra South Senatorial District.

The lawmakers, under the umbrella of the Anambra State Labour Party caucus in the National Assembly, issued a statement in Awka warning against alleged plans by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to use non-state actors and state-affiliated enforcers to influence the electoral process.

According to the statement, intelligence reports indicate that Governor Soludo and his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), intend to deploy personnel from the state-backed security outfit known as Udoagachi, along with informal tax collectors (locally referred to as ndi aka odo) and other unofficial groups to dominate polling units during the elections.

The statement was signed by two senators Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye as well as six members of the House of Representatives: Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi, Hon. Afam Ogene, Hon. Emeka Idu, Hon. (Prof.) Lilian Orogbu, Hon. Peter Anekwe, and Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo.

They said: “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.

“The whole essence of democratic governance revolves around freedom of choice, made possible by free and fair elections. Tomorrow’s Anambra by-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 he a governor or not.”

They further alleged that Governor Soludo is determined to secure both contested positions for his party and is particularly targeting a vulnerable opponent a widow, Mrs. Justina Azuka who is contesting to replace her late husband, a lawmaker reportedly killed by kidnappers.

Calling for urgent intervention, the caucus appealed to the nation’s top security hierarchy, including the National Security Adviser, Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division in Enugu, the Commanding Officer of the Field Artillery in Onitsha, the Director-General of the DSS, and the NSCDC command, to ensure full deployment of their forces to safeguard the process and restore public confidence.

“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.

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