Ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, the Labour Party candidate, Senator Athan Achonu, says the party will not allow political thugs to steal votes or disrupt the election in the state.
He stated this on Sunday when he met with some Imo State indigenes in Abuja.
Senator Achonu also expressed confidence that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will ensure that the election is free and fair, despite the electoral body’s alleged intimidation by thugs and some police officers during the recent general elections.
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“From what happened in the last state elections held in Imo State, it’s obvious. I don’t want to pre-empt the court because it’s sub judice, but I think I have some level of confidence in INEC because thugs were used to prevent them from carrying out their legitimate job during the last election.
“They used thugs; they used the police to suppress INEC. Nobody will be faced with that type of thuggery that went on and will not protect himself and his life. The police are Nigerians, the military are Nigerians; they have children also. So, I have a level of confidence in INEC and I believe that we are going to be able to protect our votes.
“Nobody can tamper with our votes and nobody can move collation from a legitimate place to another place in this coming November election. It will never be allowed,” he said.
Senator Achonu is hoping to unseat the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is going for a second term in the election scheduled to hold in less than five months.
Also considered a frontrunner in the poll is Senator Sam Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
