Anambra LG poll: IPAC condemns police assault on YPP councillorship candidate

Nawfia community in Anambra State has denied a report that its Vigilante Group was involved in the killing of three individuals over a land dispute — Anambra State

The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), on Monday, condemned the police assault on Hon. Okonkwo Onyemaobi Kenneth, the Young Progressive Party (YPP) councillorship candidate for Otolo Ward 1, Nnewi North Local Government Area (LGA), during the recent Anambra State council election.

It also recalled that the unprovoked attack on Kenneth, including the use of tear gas to subdue him, is outrageous, barbaric, and despicable.

The National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Chinyere Kalu, in a statement, said that the incident is particularly egregious as Kenneth, who lives with a disability, was at the polling unit to exercise his right to vote.

Kalu said: “Instead of being protected by the police, he was assaulted and dehumanised in an unwarranted show of force and had to be admitted to the hospital.

“The council condemns this police brutality, impunity, and rascality, and calls on the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, and the Inspector General of Police to fish out and sanction the perpetrators of the attack on Hon. Kenneth.

“There are no second-class citizens in this country; Nigerians should be treated with respect and dignity, particularly while exercising their civic duty.

“Police neutrality during elections is critical to the survival of democracy in Nigeria. They are deployed to polling units to provide security, not to disrupt elections and assault voters and candidates of opposition parties.”

“IPAC will take up this matter to ensure justice is served. The council has been in the vanguard for free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive, and peaceful elections.”

The council stressed that participatory polls are the foundation of sustainable democracy and development.

IPAC urged all stakeholders in the electoral process to demonstrate patriotism and respect the people’s mandate, asserting that this is essential for deepening and consolidating the nation’s emerging democracy.

The council added, “Police brutality has no place in the electoral process. All lovers of democracy in Nigeria should condemn violence in all its ramifications.”