The South East Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Dozie Ikedife (jnr), has dismissed the September 28 local government election in Anambra State as a show of shame.
In an executive interview over the weekend, Mr. Ikedife (jnr) expressed disappointment that Anambra State Governor Professor Charles Soludo engaged in an exercise that could not be accepted anywhere in the world and called it a local government election.
He revealed that the APC boycotted the election due to predictions of a lack of due process, a concern that was validated by the eventual outcome.
Ikedife alleged that even the political parties that participated were brutalized. “I’m very saddened by what happened in my town, Nnewi North Local Government Area, where a councilorship candidate under the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Hon. Okonkwo Onyemaobi, a physically challenged individual, was brutalized.
“In most parts of the country, physically challenged persons are treated with a lot of respect. But government agents decided to brutalize him. He was hospitalized after being teargased by agents of the government. It’s very sad.
“We’re also told that voting did not take place in Nnewi North. I can’t speak for other local government areas, but in my ward, and in some places where materials arrived, there were no result sheets.
“I’m not complaining about that because we anticipated it. The government has proved us right.
“But I’m saddened by the attack on that YPP councilorship candidate. I have gone to commiserate with him; he had his hopes on democracy and aspired to represent his people.”
Mr. Ikedife (jnr) emphasized that in a democratic setting, people should be allowed to exercise their franchise. He stated that what happened on September 28 in Anambra should not stand, as the people were denied their right to vote.
position.
“I supported my brother Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to replace the current Governor of Anambra State, but unfortunately, he is no longer with us.
“However, we in the party are moving forward and will find someone who is as competent, popular, and generally accepted as the distinguished Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to carry out the APC’s manifesto in Anambra State,” he added.
