IPAC Condemns Alleged Importation of Uniformed Thugs into Delta

 

Delta State Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr. Fred Obi, has decried the reported deployment of heavily armed thugs in some parts of the state by certain desperate politicians, who allegedly recruited the hoodlums   from neighbouring Edo State to perpetrate violence and disrupt next Saturday's governorship and assembly election in the state.

Fielding questions from journalists after a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the state Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, at the commission office in Asaba on Thursday, the IPAC chairman sued for unity among all the political parties and actors, and urged them to say no to election-related violence in Delta State.

Obi stressed that IPAC believes in the oneness of the people of the state irrespective of their different political persuasion, saying the council appreciates the peaceful atmosphere that has prevailed in Delta State particularly in the last few years and would not exchange that for anything.

He called on security agencies to be alive to their statutory responsibilities of protecting lives and property especially under a democratic setting.

Obi, who was flanked by some members of the Council, said: "We have it on good record that thugs are being recruited and imported from neighbouring Edo State by some political actors to disrupt the process next Saturday.

"The security agencies should take heed of the warning and strive to curtail the situation. I am therefore calling on the security agencies to check the inflow of people into Delta State, especially youths, before and during the elections," he said.

The state IPAC boss, however, expressed delight over the relative peaceful atmosphere during the presidential and National Assembly election in the state.

He urge Deltans to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner to enable INEC conduct the elections in a violence-free atmosphere, saying there was no need for them go violent and kill themselves.

Obi further urged INEC to improve on the conduct of next Saturday's election by being neutral and ensure credibility of the process.

Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Adeleke Adeyinka, has assured the state of police preparedness to tackle any threat of violence by miscreants or thugs during the election.