The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by some individuals to unleash wide-scale violence in Enugu State during the March 11 governorship election.
The allegation is coming few days after the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Frank Nweke (Jnr.) accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of arming thugs ahead of the polls. The party has denied the allegation.
Addressing journalists, yesterday, in Enugu, Chairman of CUPP in the state, Festus Ogbonna, cautioned against moves by desperate politicians to turn the state into a theatre of war.
Ogbonna, who called on security agencies to brace for the challenge ahead, alleged of a sinister move by some state officials to compromise officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Ogbonna said it is worrisome that a key member of the ruling party had been issuing all manner of threats to Catholic priests.
“This is quite worrisome; this is not the Enugu State of our dream. Those desirous of positions of authority should seek the people’s mandate rather than cut their throat to have their way. This is what PDP leaders are enthroning in Enugu, and it is quite condemnable,” he cautioned.
The coalition also cautioned INEC over allegations of hobnobbing with the ruling party.
“They are said to have compromised INEC officials with the purpose of truncating the credibility of the electoral process.
“This is why we are sounding a note of warning to INEC and their collaborators that we are not going to accept a situation where the will of the people will be truncated,” CUPP declared.
The group further claimed that corrupt INEC officials would come to polling units with fake result sheets, stressing: “The essence of this plot is to give voters a semblance of credible election, only to swap the fake sheets with the original version after the exercise has ended.
“Having examined these allegations, we, hereby, warn INEC not to toy with the future of millions of Enugu residents.”
