Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
Abia State chapter of the Labour Party has called on security agencies in the state to hold Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, responsible in the case of any breakdown of law and order in the State in course of the March 18 governorship election.
LP also urged security agencies to deploy its personnel to different Local Goverment Areas of the State where the Peoples Democratic Party is allegedly plotting to cause anarchy with the use of suspected criminal elements.
The party spoke in a statement signed by the Director General Alex Otti, campaign organization Chief Acho Obioma on Tuesday.
Obioma, was reacting to the arrest of the General Manager of Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency Anthony Otuonye, for threatening to unleash violence and kill Abia residents who might want to vote against the PDP governorship candidate Chief Okey Ahiwe.
He commended the Department of State Services for her swift manhunt and the arrest of the PDP for further questioning.
Obioma, pointed out that the arrest and detention of Otuonye, together with his allies was timely as it would help avert destabilisation of the State and destruction of lives and properties.
The statement read, “The Otti campaign council and the Labour Party believes that if Otuonye, who is GM of ABSAA was not enjoying the support and protection of the Ikpeazu led government and the PDP governorship candidate, he would not have the audacity to appear in public glare in day time to issue such cruel and vicious threats against Innocent citizens.
“We are aware that Otuonye, has not only been unleashing violence against Abians through the illegal removal or destruction of campaign
billboards belonging to opposition parties, but has been indulging in fraudulent activities as GM of ABSAA by forcing people to either pay money to him in cash or he would frustrate their approval for installation of billboards.
“We wish to urge security agencies to ensure that Otuonye’s accomplices and other agents of violence and destruction working for the PDP, who are at large or preparing violent attacks in different parts of the State are declared wanted, tracked down and brought to book to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements working for the PDP for the purpose of setting the State on fire over their electoral woes”.