By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
The Imo State Chairman of Labour Party, Barr Calistus Ihejiagwa has cried foul over the placement of Imo Guber campaign bill boards, and posters in the state, saying that the ruling party; All Progressives Congress, APC is seriously intimidating the opposition parties.
Ihejiagwa stated this recently during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee, IPAC Summit in the state, to advocate for free, fair and credible election.
Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman lamented that the opposition parties have been deprived of a level playing ground as measures have been put up to stop them from mounting the posters of their candidates, aside from that of the governorship candidate of the ruling party, APC.
According to him, "Presently in the state, there is an unfortunate situation where the ruling party, the APC, is seriously intimidating the opposition. There is serious unfair play in the State; if you go round Imo, you can only see the poster of one candidate, which is that of the candidate of APC, Senator Hope Uzodimma
"Through very tyrannical Polices of Imo State Signage and Advertisment Agency, IMSAA, which governor Uzodimma has deliberately brought on board to gag the opposition parties, no opposition party can put up there banners and posters, or even brand there vehicles for the election.
"The other day we put up banners in our campaign headquarter, and they came with armed thugs and demolished it, including our party flags, and carted away with some of our assets.
"IPAC Summit talks about free fair and credible election, but the free and fair is not envisaged in this election.
"Since IMSAA brought up the outrageous demand that every political party before putting up any bill board will pay fifty-four million naira, (N54000000), we went to their office to fill the forms, and they said they won't avail it to us as they have instructions from the State Government House not to accept anything from Labour Party.
"This made it so obvious to us that the whole senerio was an intentional act to foil our winning the election, but that cannot happen because the people know who they want with or without placing posters and bill boards,'Ihejiagwa stated'.
The chairman who said he was in the summit in dual capacity; as one of the 18 State Chairmen who are members of IPAC, and as a representative of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Senator Athan Achonu, noted that he is optimistic that Athan will win the election as Imolites are at the moment yearning for good governance, a leader not a ruler, which he said, Achonu represents it all.
"Imolites need a leader who will come and bring an end to the insecurity that poses a strong threat to everyone. A leader who has a compassionate heart, who knows the problem of the people, someone who has realistic approach to development of Imo State, someone who has a stake in the state, like Senator Athan who is one of the highest investors in the state, 'the chairman averred.
Ihejiagwa futher clarified that Labour Party is one in Nigeria, in the state, and so they have only one candidate, who he pointed out is Senator Athan Achonu.
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