2019: Ikpeazu Scared Of APGA – Ehiemere
Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) in Abia State, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, has said Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is scared of the rising popularity of the party and has continued to disrupt APGA activities in the 17 council areas of the state.
The party boss stated the continued influx of Abia residents to the party has awakened the state government to the reality of losing the 2019 general election in the state to APGA, leading to violent attacks allegedly sponsored against the party and her governorship aspirant, Dr. Alex Otti.
The APGA state chairman lamented that the politically motivated acts of terror against APGA took a new twist on August 21, 2018, when its members were attacked by agents of the state government at the venue of their rally at the National Institute for Nigerian Languages, (NINLAN) in Obingwa local government area.
Ehiemere alleged that the state government sponsored hoodlums to stop the rally as over 500 PDP members of Obingwa council were slated to defect to APGA at the rally and urged the federal government to beam her searchlight on Abia state to nip the activities of hoodlums who are being equipped to cause bloodshed in Abia during the 2019 elections.
He said, “The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Abia State chapter wishes to officially bring to your attention, senseless acts of terror sponsored by Abia state government and directed at APGA supporters and her governorship aspirant, Dr. Alex Otti OFR.
“The Obingwa LGA chapter of APGA had informed the state leadership of the party, and its governorship aspirant, Dr. Otti of the willingness of some former members of other political parties and intending new members to declare for APGA at a rally organized by the party.
“On arrival at the venue early in the morning of the day, the leaders of APGA discovered that the venue had been locked. Given that the venue had been paid for and police clearance secured for the event, the leaders engaged the school security men who were surprised that the gate had been locked.
“Some thugs then started making open threats, vowing that nothing would make Alex Otti and APGA hold any political activity in Obingwa; because, according to them, it is the local government of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
“To make good their threats, after long verbal altercations and engagements, the thugs began hauling stones, bottles and other dangerous objects at APGA and Otti’s supporters. This caused confusion as many people, especially women, scampered for safety.
“Information made available to us so far, has revealed how Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s agents mobilized and funded the thugs who carried out the violent attack with the aim of scaring Dr. Alex Otti away from the LGA. Of course most of the thugs didn’t hide their reason for the attack; which is to stop Alex Otti and APGA from venturing into Obingwa LGA. The most dangerous aspect of this sad development is that these government sponsored thugs are becoming more daring as they are emboldened by the assurances of their sponsors that security agents can do nothing to them.
The party stated that despite violent attacks against APGA and her leaders, it will continue to conduct her activities in line with decorum in order not to endanger the lives of the people of the state.
