Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Senatorial Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 3, 2024, bye-election in Ebonyi State, Linus Okorie, and the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area of the State, Chidiebere Uzor, have disagreed over alleged importation of political thugs from the Niger Delta ahead of the election.
The Labour Party Candidate, Mr Okorie had during a reception in his honour in the area accused the Council Chairman, Mr Uzor, of bringing thugs from the Niger Delta to unleash mayhem on innocent voters ahead of the election.
Mr Okorie noted that the party had already alerted security agencies on the plot by the Chairman and his thugs to cause mayhem during the election and expressed the regret that the same scenario played out during the last general election in 2023.
“We want to bring to the notice of the people that the local government Chairman of Onicha, Chidiebere Uzor, has imported thugs from the Niger Delta which he did the last time which led to the death of someone.
“We have already reported to the security agencies. We want to assure them that if anyone is killed, the people won’t go free because Onicha is a holy land.”
He warned the youths against being used as political thugs and expressed sadness that some politicians can never do politics without thuggery and violence.
“Any leader who will use you as a thug doesn’t love your father, doesn’t love your mother and also doesn’t love you. My advice to the youths is to steer clear of such politicians. If anyone wants to use you as a thug, reject it and pull out,” Okorie advised.
But in a swift reaction, the Media Adviser to the Council Chairman, Prince Chijoke Agwu, described the allegation as false and unfounded and urged the candidate to focus on his campaign if he is actually campaigning for the bye-election.
Prince Agwu noted that the Council Chairman is too busy with the ongoing Ward to Ward campaign in support of the Candidate of the party, to respond to such laziness.
“Right now, we are at Abaomege ward. The election is beyond attention seeking alarms. If the LP Candidate is in the contest for real, he should point any ward in the five local government areas of Ebonyi South he has visited for campaign or consultation. In the absence of that, he should be peaceful.
“It should however be noted that the Labour Party candidate actually raised the alarm to cover a vicious attack launched against an APC member from his Isiama village on Wednesday by some of his supporters.
“He should be told that no amount of alarm will stop security agencies from investigating the incident,” Agwi said.
