The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ebonyi State has petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, and the state commissioner of police, Olaleye Faleye, over the gruesome murder of its party agent, Mr. Thomas Obodo. The incident occurred at polling unit 009, Igbagu Ward 2 in Izzi local government area of the state by thugs during the election.
In a post-election press conference in Abakaliki, the state capital, the NNPP governorship candidate, Prophet Adol Awam, expressed sadness over the high level of violence carried out by thugs on the election day. The party also petitioned relevant security agencies in the state over the abduction of its agent, Mr. Fred Alobu, in Ekpomaka ward in Ikwo local government area by suspected political thugs.
Prophet Adol Awam alleged that two prominent traditional rulers from Ebonyi and Izzi local government areas instructed some persons to move around the village and announce that anyone who would not vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) must not come to the polling unit. He described the election as a sham and maintained that the party rejects the outcome of the election, stating that it would pursue the legal process to reclaim the mandate.
The NNPP governorship candidate extended his condolences to the family of late Thomas Obodo, a former party agent of the NNPP, who was killed by thugs in Izzi LGA while protecting the votes of Ebonyi people. The party calls on the relevant authorities to ensure that justice is served not just to the late Obodo but also to Fred Alobu who was abducted by thugs at about 8am and was released at about 11pm in Ikwo.
Prophet Adol Awam maintained that the party has multiple evidence of the flawed election at their disposal, which has been submitted to the governorship election petitions tribunal. He expressed confidence that the tribunal would nullify the election and call for a more credible poll in the state. He also dismissed the statement credited to Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum Chairman, Mr. Ben Nwovu, that he stepped down for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election few days to the polls, describing it as baseless and unfounded propaganda.
The cleric pointed out that his reputation and integrity would not allow him to be part of any action that would jeopardize his image, adding that such falsehood of stepping down was inconceivable. The NNPP has called for a thorough investigation into the killing and abduction of its party agents, and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.