Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on Sunday said that it is curious that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to make an official statement on this worrisome trend of attacks and carting away of its registration machines in Lagos State. Speaking to newsmen during a press briefing,
Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo said the briefing is necessitated by confirmed reports that multitudes of Areas Boys (touts) at Igbede in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos have besieged the INEC-approved registration areas to disperse Igbo traders that have closed their shops to partake in their civic responsibility.
He said, “We have it on good record that some of them carted away with INEC registration machines. All these are geared towards making Ndigbo scapegoats in the build-up to the 2023 General Elections. But, we are curious that this is happening barely 48 hours since Bola Tinubu emerged as APC flagbearer.
We are even more curious that INEC is yet to make an official statement on this worrisome trend.” Isiguzoro said that other confirmed reports available to Ohanaeze have it that Igbos that came out to register are being turned back. He stated that during the 2019 General Elections, hoodlums were reported to have stormed Igbo-dominated areas and burnt ballot papers on Election Day. “This trend must stop immediately. INEC’s silence on matters like this is quite revealing.
We wish to raise our voice at this time when it matters most. “We wish to call our people to stand up strong, at a time the major political parties have shown their outright disdain and disrespect for the South-East.” He said that the level of travesty and treachery that have been exhibited in the past few days, by major political parties in Nigeria, is an indication that despite Igbo commitment to Nigeria, despite Igbo patriotism, despite Igbo passion and sacrifices, they are grandly perceived as outcasts.
Isiguzoro urged Igbos to see the danger looming adding that while Ohanaeze prepares to call a meeting of its Caucus (Imeobi), where all right-thinking and forward-looking Igbo men and women will be invited for the presentation of a practical, measurable and achievable framework, it wishes to call on Igbos to rise in unison.
Isiguzoro also called on all Igbos to throw their weight behind Chief Edozie Njoku, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), for having exhibited foresight, fortitude and astuteness through the reclamation of APGA from men that have no program for Igbo people.
“Barely two weeks after assuming office, Chief Edozie Njoku took the entire NWC to Chief Chekwas Okorie and apologized to him on behalf of the Party, for not treating him well.
A week later, Chief Chekwas Okorie reciprocated Chief Njoku’s gesture and returned to the party. On June 3, 2022,” he said. Isiguzoro however said that Ohanaeze is drawing the attention of the whole world that the 2023 election may not hold, stressing that some agents of politicians, on subversive missions are bent on setting this country ablaze.
“If this is not true, how do you explain the irresponsible action of the Commission by ignoring the Supreme Court Judgment from May 9, 2022 – June 9, 2022? “There is palpable fear in the land. And, rather than promote a favourable and serene electoral climate, Mr Festus Okoye, an agent of Prof. Yakubu Mahmood has collected N5 billion from fifth columnists to suppress the Supreme Court’s judgment that declared Chief Njoku the authentic National Chairman of APGA.
“We have credible intelligence that Mr Okoye negotiated a sharing formula of 60% – 40% for all illegal forms sold to unsuspecting aspirants by Victor Oye. So, what is keeping INEC from acknowledging the Supreme Court judgment is Okoye and Mahmood’s interest.
“We wish to inform the DSS, DIA and DMI that Festus Okoye has less than one month to spend in INEC, therefore, he sees this ongoing electoral process as a cash cow and the last opportunity. Shamefully, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood has put the entire 2023 General Election in total jeopardy. Let the public be aware.
“As Ndigbo lick their wounds, having lost out in the PDP and APC Presidential Primaries, why is Mahmood being used to stifle the chances of Ndigbo in the coming 2023 General Elections? We shall get to the root of this.”
Isiguzoro called on INEC to give Njoku a letter of recognition as the authentic National Chairman of APGA or face the wrath of the Igbos.
