TROUBLE LOOMS: ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT TO CLAMP DOWN ON APGA MEMBERS - OTTI'S CAMPAIGN ORG. REVEALS

January 27, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

The Alex Otti Campaign Organisation has learnt of a secret plot by the PDP-led government in Abia State to frame up or instigate the clamp down and illegal arrest and detention of many APGA and Alex Otti supporters, especially the youth, on trumped up charges of violence, ranging from breach of public peace and destruction of billboards and posters. In some cases, the party (PDP) will destroy its own billboards and posters and report APGA members as the perpetrators.

We understand that this plot stems from the highly embarrassing violent encounter between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and some members of the student union group in Abia State, at Abia Hotel, Umuahia, venue of the recent gubernatorial debate organised by the Online Publishers Association, led by the Abia Facts News.

Abia people would recall that a group of students who, according to reports, sought audience with the governor at the Abia Governorship Debate, January 22, 2019, was mal-handled by the governor's security aides with some of them suffering serious bodily injuries.

The essence of this plot is to deplete Alex Otti's support base, frighten his supporters and dampen their spirit of participation, after which the arrested persons would be released a few days to the general election under the guise of pardon, with the hope that they will support the PDP at the polls.

Ordinarily, we would have ignored those behind this phoney plot and their collaborators, but because such an act of crude politics could be capable of causing chaos and unnecessarily heating up the society, especially, when met with equal resistance, we therefore deem it appropriate to caution the PDP to stop in its own interest.

Alex Otti's supporters and indeed APGA members are known for their peaceful disposition towards others and have continued to exhibit a great deal of restraint, even in the face of obvious provocation and thus would not contemplate indulging in any act capable of disturbing the peace of the state, especially at a time like this.

As we speak, agents of the PDP, apparently emboldened by the Abia State government, have continued to destroy Alex Otti billboards and posters; other billboards and assets belonging to APGA candidates, across the state. Some of these have been reported to the police.

We therefore call on the security agents, particularly the police, to be vigilant and ensure that their men are not dragged into executing a partisan agenda, that will undermine the peace and security of lives and property in Abia State.

Signed:
For: ALEX OTTI CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION

Kazie Uko
Director, Media and Publicity