Council Poll: APC Kicks Off Campaign in Ebonyi

From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State on Monday officially flagged off its campaign for the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for August 22.
The campaign, which commenced in Ikwo Local Government Area, is expected to conclude next week.
Addressing party supporters at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Francis Nwifuru described the APC candidates for the forthcoming council elections as tested, trusted, and marketable.
He urged party supporters across the state’s 13 local government areas to conduct issue-based campaigns and refrain from actions capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the elections.
According to him, “As we present these candidates today, it is your responsibility to go into every community and market them.
“Because they are the best products in the field. Do not be distracted by negative propaganda because the APC has presented competent candidates who will deliver quality leadership at the grassroots,” he said.
Governor Nwifuru, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Onyemaechi Obila, formally presented the party’s flag to the APC chairmanship candidate for Ikwo Local Government Area, Henry Chidi Nwode, and his running mate, signalling the official commencement of the party’s campaign for the council polls.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi, stressed that political campaigns should not be misconstrued as acts of hostility, urging all political actors to respect the constitutional rights of citizens.
“We are not here to fight anybody. Every citizen has the constitutional right to belong to any political party.
“Nobody should intimidate or attack another because of political differences. Let us conduct ourselves lawfully and peacefully throughout this campaign period,” Elechi said.
The former governor further expressed confidence that the ruling APC would emerge victorious, citing what he described as the people’s overwhelming support for Governor Nwifuru’s administration. He, however, cautioned party supporters against violence and any act capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the state.
Elechi’s warning came barely three days after thugs allegedly led by Friday Agbom, an APC chieftain and legal practitioner, reportedly injured no fewer than 10 supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Idembia, Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
The suspected thugs, allegedly led by Agbom, were also accused of attempting to set ablaze a brand-new Hummer bus belonging to the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). They also reportedly smashed a camera belonging to a reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
The journalists had been invited to cover a reception organised by Mr Ifeanyi Nworie, a former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).