Tinubu dares IPOB, schedules presidential campaigns in Anambra, Imo for Mondays

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu has scheduled his campaign rallies in Anambra State and Imo State on Mondays.

Tinubu will be in the Southeast states – Imo on Monday, November 21, and Anambra on Monday, January 30, according to the presidential campaign timetable released by the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

The APC and Tinubu’s decision to hold their presidential campaigns on Mondays is in defiance of the mandatory sit-at-home order by the proscribed separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB declared the sit-at-home order in August 2021 to protest and demand the release of their leader Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial on treason and terrorism charges by the Nigerian government.

Violators of the sit-at-home order have been victims of violence and killings by gunmen in southeast states on Mondays. Vehicular movements and commercial activities are on halt in compliance with IPOB’s order.

In early October, IPOB said it has no plans to disrupt the 2023 election and accused the government of masterminding insecurity in the Southeast zone.

Days later, an appeal court acquitted Kanu of all charges against him but the government said it will “consider all available options open to us on the judgment”.

IPOB has since approached the Supreme Court challenging the October 28, 2022, decision of the Court of Appeal, which granted a stay of execution of its order discharging and acquitting him.

The APC candidate Tinubu is yet to disclose how he plans to manage IPOB and other secession groups if he succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari after the 2023 election.

Director General of the campaign council and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, on Thursday said the APC presidential campaign will flag off in Jos, the Plateau State capital on Tuesday, November 15.

The APC presidential campaign timetable shows that Tinubu will spend the second week of December on international engagement.

The APC will hold its rally in Delta State on November 15, Imo on 21, Kwara on 22, Anambra on 24, Ogun on 26, Enugu on 29 and Sokoto on 30 November.

The APC scheduled two rallies for Lagos and Kano State; Saturday, December 3, and Monday, February 2023 for Lagos and Wednesday, January 4 and Saturday, February 11, 2023, for Kano State.

Rivers State APC rally is scheduled for Thursday, December 1.

The Osun State rally is scheduled for 24 January. And for Abuja, there will be a rally and musical concert on 8 February.

The Lagos State rally on 13 February will mark the end of the presidential campaign activities for the party and the last ten days before the election will be spent on election planning.

The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flagged off its presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, October 10.