Abia LG Election: IPAC threatens sanction against any party that stirs violence, Govt. restricts movement
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Ahead of the November 2, 2024 local government elections in Abia State, the state branch of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) an umbrella body of all political parties in the state, has threatened to sanction any political party that causes any breach of the peace, even as the state government has banned movements during the election.
Abia IPAC Chairman, Hon. Uluocha Chimex, issued the warning on Thursday, October 31, 2024 while briefing the Press in Umuahia. He said that election periods should not be a period of conflict when a brother would rise against his brother, one party against another party or village against village.
Uluocha said that time has come when political contests should be decent and carried out in a manner that all would be happy with the outcome so that peace would reign after elections.
“So far, during the short period of electioneering campaigns, there has been relative peace in Abia. This is kudos to the unity in IPAC and a note of warning that we are sending to all political parties, that any party we find involved in violent activities during campaigns and the election proper, that party will be sanctioned,” the Abia IPAC Chairman vowed.
He said IPAC was currently being repositioned as a tool for deepening democracy in the state because political activities are engineered by political parties, adding that parties must not send the wrong signal to the people.
“So, we the critical stakeholders as political parties, we can’t afford to behave as we like or in a manner that will put our democracy in danger,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Abia State government has announced that movement would be restricted in the state on election day.
The movement restriction notice was contained in a statement endorsed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu.
it reads: “Ahead of the forthcoming Local Government election which will hold on Saturday, 2nd November, 2024 , Abia State Government hereby restricts the movement of people and vehicles during the elections.
“The restriction will commence by 12:00 midnight on Friday and end by 4:00pm on Saturday.
By this announcement, only those on essential services will be allowed movement upon the presentation of valid identification cards.
“The state government therefore directs all Abians and residents of the State, including markets, motor parks and other business centres to adhere strictly to this restriction order and warns that defaulters would have themselves to blame as security agents are well prepared to ensure the strict implementation of this order.”
