Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State Chapter, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa has said that the party will not boycott the December 2020 Local Government Area elections.
Nwankpa who stated this during a Town Hall Meeting with leaders and stakeholders of APC in Umuahia South LGA however warned that the party will resist any attempt by anyone to rig and manipulate the election against the wishes of the people.
Aba City Blog reports that the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), led by Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa, has scheduled the Local Government Polls for December 19, 2020.
The Abia APC Chairman said the decision to tour the 17 LGA of the state starting with Umuahia South prior to the LGA election confirms the burning desire to return the party to the grassroots, stressing that every politics is local.
“We’re participating. Why we must participate is because no place in law has boycott been a legal reason for the cancellation of an election. The only thing boycott will do to an election is to question its credibility.
“We have to participate because the establishment of the State independent electoral commission is a product of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“Until the leaders of this country decide to take the country to the next level through the liberation of the Local Government from the apron of the state development will continue to be a problem,” he said.
Nwankpa said that the APC will use the LGA election to test run its strength in preparation for further elections, stressing that his confident his party will win as many sits as possible in a free and fair election.
“For us, it’s an exercise worth it. You don’t win a trophy in a friendly football match, but it helps in FIFA ranking. We’ll use this LGA election to test run our strength because we’ll win. There are crown and uncrown heroes are there are also those you can’t deny victory.
“This is an era of information power. We can’t boycott the election. We must be determined. We want to assure you that we’ll do everything legally possible to get what we want.
“With what the US has done recently, blacklisting some persons they said got involved in election rigging, we know very well that LGA election is a constitutional election and if anybody attempt to rig it unnecessarily, we’ll do everything possible to get that person to see that the world has changed and that the world is now a global village.”
A party chieftain and Pro Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja, Sen. Chris Adighije described the idea of going round the 17 LGA as a wonderful mobilization effort.
He described Abia State as a low hanging fruit ready to be plucked by the APC and urged the party faithfuls to remain resolute, determined, loyal and peaceful as the party moves towards winning Abia to give the people a better sense of belonging.
“Our party APC have started a movement for complete victory for all elections. I advise you touch all LGAs. Other parties have seen the light and are collapsing into Abia APC just to restore the state.
“The PDP Government as it is today, is guilty of destroying the psychology of our people. They are no longer proud to say they’re Abians. Politics is a combination of several aspects of life. So, you have underline issues when you’re fighting for power.
“So, it’s my job as an elder who has seen it all to ensure that we have unity of purpose in the party. That will arise from peaceful conduct of our affairs. We have sympathy for our state Abia. So, we have to position ourselves to take over power by democratic means.
“Our party can’t boycott the election and the new program by foreign missions in Nigeria to deny visas to people who have misconduct records in elections is a good step.
“So, I believe that people who are planning to rig elections be it local or national will begin to think twice before they go into their nefarious activities.
“So, if that’s the case, we believe that APC as a popular party gaining more ground in Abia in a fair elections will get more than majority of the sits in the local government,” he said.
Also, the Publicity Secretary of Abia APC, Comrade Benedict Godson said the party is on ground in fully ready for the December LGA elections.
“We’re on ground. We’ll win a lot of sits in the forthcoming LGA election. We’re prepared and it’s obvious that in Abia now, what we have is APC and other parties.
“What we’ve started today is a move in the right direction and by the time it’s concluded, the grassroots will be ready for anything ahead.”
