The All Progressives Congress, APC says it will enhance the credibility of the forthcoming gubernatorial and statehouse of assembly polls as it explained that it has no plans to rig in favour of the party’s candidate as portrayed by some of the news circulating in the media.
The Director of Media for Divine Mandate campaign Council of the Rulling All Progressives Congress, APC for 2023 general elections, Barrister Uchenna Orji who is also serving as commmissioner for Information and State Orientation, made this known during a press briefing held in Abakiliki, the state capital.
Orji said “As the tempo of political activities is rising ahead of the March 18th, 2023 Governorship and the State House of Assembly Elections, we are mindful of the growing tensions generated by a few desperate opposition elements and their Governorship candidates who are frustrated by the turn of event and have resorted to raising dusts, instigating tensions and creating insecurity in some parts of the State.
“We have it on good authority that the opposition elements particularly APGA and PDP, having seen their imminent disgraceful failure in the coming election of 18th March, 2023, are doing everything possible to charge the atmosphere and distort the peace and security enjoyed in the State before, during and after the elections. We therefore warn that these enemies of the State be called to order by security agencies.
“They know that APC is on ground, they are only doing and issuing all kind of statements to gather sympathy but it is not going to work because APC is on ground“, he explained.
This came following a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the Media and Publicity secretary of the Odohzhia Ebonyi Campaign council of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Charles Otu alleging that it has uncovered plot by the ruling party in the State to transfer N7.8Bn from one of the State’s government accounts meant to rig the elections to their favour.
The party hence, drew the attention of the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the development in Ebonyi state.
“As the clock ticks faster for Saturday’s Governorship and State’s Houses of Assembly elections in Ebonyi State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Governorship candidate, Professor Benard Odoh’s campaign council, popularly known as Odohzia Ebonyi Campaign council have uncovered a grand plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Ebonyi State led by Governor David Umahi to transfer a total sum of N7.8Bn from one of the State’s government accounts allegedly meant to compromise the electoral integrity of the polls for immediate disbursement to underlisted persons and agencies involved in the said election.”
He said reliable sources revealed that the said amount was to be distributed in agreed sums to the Electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Security agencies involved in election duties and the Returning Officers, for the election in various Local Government Areas.
“The disbursement, we gathered is to be passed in form of an ’empowerment scheme’ through the 13 Local Government Councils to INEC, Police and the Nigerian Military officers on election duty, including all those who have been pin-pointed to have a role to play in elections process.
“And for us in APGA, we are very worried about this mountain of allegations emanating even from those serving in Umahi’s government and we are even more particularly troubled by the way and manner the INEC and collided with the State government actors to tamper with the electoral wishes of Ebonyi people by declaring election results in favour of APC candidates even in places where votes were cancelled and dubious manipulations extensively during the last presidential elections.
“To this end, APGA, Ebonyi State therefore calls on the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission, ICPC and security agencies across the nation to be vigilant and monitor all transactions on all the State government’s accounts from the UBA, First Bank to Zenith Bank among other commerical banks operated by the Ebonyi State government,“Otu stated.
He said that the APGA, PDP and the ruling party APC have recently engulfed themselves in counter accusations of rising cases of killings, and plot to rig the Saturday’s elections.
LateefahIbrahim
