By Emmanuel Uzodinma Amid widespread concerns following rumours of possible use of violence in Saturday’s governorship and Houses of...
By Emmanuel Uzodinma
Amid widespread concerns following rumours of possible use
of violence in Saturday’s governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in
Enugu State, the Labour Party (LP) Governorship candidate in the State, Barr.
Chijioke Edeoga, has urged voters to defend their votes as means of eliminating
politicians that have turned the economic resources of the state into private
enterprises.
Edeoga, who spoke while addressing party leaders and
supporters from Aninri and Awgu Local Government Areas, said he was aware of
plans by certain political actors in the state to use violence and thuggery to
influence the outcome of the polls.
He, however, said he believes that the people can resist
such plans when united in resilience.
While thanking voters in Enugu for springing the Labour
Party to victory in the Presidential, Senate and House of Representatives
elections on February 25, Edeoga urged them to repeat the same feat during the
governorship elections to cement the emergence of Labour Party as the new
platform for freedom and expedited development in the State.
He said voting for Labour Party was important because it
will reinforce the massive support given to the Labour Party Presidential
candidate, Peter Obi, during the last elections, and will serve as further
proof that the votes cast in Enugu was no fluke, especially given that the
election is currently being contested in court.
“You do not have to be afraid of these threats of violence.
They are merely trying to make you afraid. They tried it during the last
election but could not succeed.
“We must uphold the integrity of our communities by
resisting the invasion by outsiders, whether they call them Ayes, or they call
them Black Axe or they call them Black Thugs, whatever they are called, this
victory by democratic forces, for Labour Party, should not be thwarted; it
should not be frustrated.
“We have to guarantee that the right of individuals, women,
men, and youths, to vote freely, without coercion, without disturbance, without
humiliation, to vote who they choose, must be maintained.”
Continuing, the Labour Party Governorship candidate, said:
“Enugu State is touted as a peaceful place. Any effort, whether clandestine or
open; any threat to disturb the peace of Enugu State should be resisted.
“I am enjoining, I am asking, I am calling out to all youths
of Enugu State, all citizens of Enugu State on the ongoing attempt by the PDP
and their henchmen, to rig the election that is coming on Saturday. The path to
victory by the Labour party is clear and incontestable, and it is an eloquent statement
of the new direction which Enugu State wants to go.
“But we are facing the danger of a reversal, by people who
have ruined Enugu State, misgoverned Enugu State, and have shown lack of
empathy and lack of love for our people. So, please, do not allow our votes to
be destroyed. Vote at the polling units and stay to see that they are counted.”
He reminded the people of the state that the direction of
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was for people to stay at
their polling centres until results are counted and uploaded and urged them to
resist any attempt by any electoral officer or agent to move away from polling
stations or collation centres without announcing and uploading the results to
the INEC portal.
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