In the face of widespread concerns of possible violence in Saturday’s governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in Enugu State, the Labour Party governorship candidate, Barrister Chijioke Edeoga has urged the voters to defend their votes and eliminate politicians who have turned the economic resources of the state into private enterprises.
Addressing party leaders and supporters from Aninri and Awgu Local Government Areas on Monday, Edeoga said that 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 that he believes that the people would resist such plans as they are united in resilience.
While thanking voters in the state for springing the Labour Party to victory in the presidential and National Assembly elections on 25 February, Edeoga urged them to repeat the feat during the governorship elections to cement the emergence of the party as the new platform for freedom and expedited development in the state.
He said that voting for Labour Party was important because it would reinforce the massive support given to its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi during the last elections, and would serve as further proof that the votes cast in the state was no fluke, especially given that the presidential 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”, Edeoga said.
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 (Peoples Democratic Party) 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.
