Follow Us on Google
From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Accord political party in Rivers State has written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding suspension of Saturday’s House of Assembly Election in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency 2, over the kidnap of its candidate, Chukwudi Ogbonna.
Unknown gunmen on Tuesday night, abducted the party’s candidate for ONELGA Constituency 2, at Rumuigbo axis of Port Harcourt.
As at Thursday, the whereabouts of Ogbonna has remained unknown, and the kidnappers have not contacted the victim’s family and party members.
Speaking during a peaceful protest at Mgbede in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, chairman of Accord, Nwachukwu Justice, said the demonstration was as a result of the abduction of the party’s candidate for ONELGA Constituency 2.
Justice said the party has officially written to INEC informing it of the development and requesting that the state assembly election for the constituency should be suspended until the victim is released.
He said: “Election is just two days away and our candidate is still in the den of his abductors. As a party, we are calling on the abductors to, please, release him to us.
“We are calling on security agents to scale up efforts to ensure his safe release before the day of the election.
“We have written INEC that in the event where our candidate is not released until the day of the election, that the election for ONELGA Constituency 2 should be suspended.”
A member of the victim’s family, Ifeakachukwu Nwakiri, urged INEC to evoke Section 24 (1&2) of the Electoral Act on the development and suspend the polls.
He added that the kidnap was an emergency situation and could cause breach of peace in the society.
He said: “The position of the family is same with that of the party that Chukwudi Ogbonna should be released. INEC should postpone the election pending when Ogbonna is freed.
“INEC has the power to suspend the election in this place. Section 24 (1&2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, gave INEC the absolute power to postpone election in an event of emergency of breach of peace.
“As you can see, there is an emergency and breach of peace in ONELGA Constituency 2. We are calling on them to suspend the election pending when Engr Ogbanna is released.”
Similarly, leader of Egbema Massive Movement and the Strategic Media Director and Head of Contact and Mobilisation, Kelly Rufus, for the abducted candidate, described the continuous hostage of Ogbanna as saddening.
He said the abduction was purely political, noting that the development could lead to breakdown of law and order, if not properly handled.
