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Anambra State “cannot afford a governor who would emerge on the basis of a stolen mandate”, said the Anglican Bishop of Ihiala diocese, Rt Rev. Israel Kelue Okoye.
The cleric stated this at the Cathedral Church of St. Silas, Ihiala, during the First Session of the Third Synod themed, ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us’.
Commenting on the forthcoming governorship election in the state, Okoye at the weekend decried the failure of some stakeholders to abide by the rules of fair politicking.
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He said: “The ongoing electioneering campaign has not passed the test of issues-based politics. It is fraught with desperation, uncivilised attacks on persons, hiring of crowds who do not know the issues at stake to market a deceitful impression of political support, politicising of religion and other social configurations.”
He disclosed: “There are rumours of plans to manipulate the election results and recruitment of some youths that would militarily force the electoral wheel to move in a defined direction,” and warned: “That should not be allowed.”
Okoye advised stakeholders: “They must avoid accentuating divisive factors in the state, promoting hatred because of their desire to capture power by all means. They must be mindful of the fact that they are ultimately answerable to God who is the judge of the living and the dead.”
He added: “The security situation in Anambra State is highly commendable. We need to sustain it as we continue with the electoral process in order to exercise our voting right in a peaceful environment.
“We cannot afford a governor who would emerge on the basis of a stolen mandate. We need a governor duly elected by the people in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and electoral laws.”
