Nsukka Professionals Association (NPA), a non partisan stakeholder in Enugu State, yesterday, alerted Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, on unresolved assassination of Labour Party candidate for Enugu East senatorial district, days preceding February 25, 2023 Presidential election, tasking him on improved security in the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
President of the group, Charles Nwodo Jr, who spoke on behalf of the group, yesterday, in Ikeja, Lagos, regretted that no arrests have been made since the incident and announced a donation of N1 million to the family of the slain politician in solidarity with their grief.
He also urged the IGP to dispatch a special team of detectives to Enugu State with a mandate to seek out and apprehend all those directly connected with the crime no matter their status or extent of connections in the society.
According to him, there are credible reports about plans by one of the parties to disrupt elections in parts of Enugu State, which are considered as strongholds of other parties, notably Isi Uzo Local council and the six local councils that make up Enugu North senatorial zone.
This, he said, had orchestrated wholesale disenfranchisement of voters in these areas through vote buying and selling, sponsored violence, intimidation and harassment of voters on election day.
He said: “We are appalled that no arrests have been made and no suspects interrogated by security agencies till date. The IGP is implored to dispatch a special team of detectives to Enugu State with a mandate to seek out and apprehend all those directly or indirectly connected with the heinous crime, no matter their status or extent of connections in the society.
“Along with all persons of good will in Enugu State and Nigeria, it’s our resolve to ensure that this crime is thoroughly investigated and justice served on the guilty in accordance with our laws.”
On Saturday’s election, NPA stated that there are credible reports and plans by desperate politicians in Enugu State to compromise key officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Army, and other security agencies in Enugu State, with a view to frustrating the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
“We are informed that an INEC Enugu State official has been specifically accused of being the coordinator of the plots to disenfranchise Enugu voters.
“We however call on INEC’s chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to immediately recuse this staff from all official activities related to the forthcoming election so as to reinforce the credibility of the electoral process and also protect the career of this staff in the event that she is innocent of the accusation,” it added.
The group further called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the IGP, Chief of Defence Staff, INEC chairman, International communities and Nigerians of good will to proffer quick response and solutions, stating that Enugu State should be given special attention by INEC in the March 18 elections.
(The Guardian)
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