Clampdown on ACN members

There seems to be a massive clampdown on  Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members in Akwa Ibom, four days to the general elections.

Governorship candidate Senator James Udoedehe is  facing a treason  charge in Abuja. The police in Uyo, the state capital,  yesterday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of five top officials of the party, among them Mr. Joe Effiong, a lawyer, who is the senatorial candidate of the party for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

Others on the list are: Udoedehe’s running-mate Dr. Ime Umana; party chairman Aniekan Akpan; Director-General of “Positive Change”, the Udoedehe campaign organisation, Dr. Udoma Ekarika; and its Secretary-General, Udeme Nnana.

In Abuja, Udoedehe’s lawyer, Mr. Francis Affanga, was arraigned for allegedly making inflammatory remarks on a live television programme “capable of causing disaffection against President Goodluck Jonathan”.

The warrant of arrest was signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police and the AC N chiefs are asked to answer questions on arson and destruction of public property.

Last week, the ACN governorship campaign team came under a hail of bullets when it went to campaign in Ikot Ekpene, the hometown of Governor Godswill Akpabio. Akapabio is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate. Nine people were killed and scores injured.

Akpabio, allegedly said no candidate should campaign in his hometown. This may have resulted in the attack on the opposition candidate’s team.

What followed was a protest in Uyo, Udoedehe’s hometown, which was said to have been hijacked by hoodlums who burnt down some government vehicles.

Party officials said last night that the warrant of arrest was an attempt to prevent the AC N from spreading its message to the people.

“They are doing everything to frustrate us, but the people are with us,” they said.

Udoedehe’s lawyer was arraigned by State Security Service (SSS), at a Magistrate’s Court in Abuja.

Affanga is facing a two-count charge bordering on attempting to cause disaffection against President Jonathan.

He is accused of expressing feelings of disaffection against the President and making false statements against the person of the president.

The offence, allegedly committed on March 25, contravenes Sections 416 and 393 of the Penal Code Law.

Affanga pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution said it had concluded investigation and was ready to open its case while praying that the accused be remanded till the next adjourned date.

Magistrate Oyebola Oyewumi ruled that the accused be given access to his counsel and should be remanded in SSS custody, pending hearing and determination of a formal bail application.

The matter was adjourned till April 5.

Also yesterday, Akwa Ibom State police boss Mr. Felix Osita Uyanna said any person involved in electoral fraud would face the law – 24 months imprisonment or N100.000.00, or both.

Uyanna has also vowed to dismiss policemen found escorting politicians. He banned the retinue of personal aides who normally accompany their bosses during elections only to end up with snatching, or destroying electoral materials.

Speaking during his maiden meeting with political party chairmen, secretaries and organising secretaries ahead of the polls, the police chief said any party found to foment violence would be delisted.

Uyanna, who is just a week old in the state, said the last political violence claimed the lives of innocent persons and witnessed the burning of more than 200 vehicles and 500 tricycles.

Civil Society Organisations have also criticised intolerance of some state governments for the opposition parties. They also condemned violence.

In a statement signed by their two co-directors, Mr. Clement Nwankwo and Dr Jibrin Ibrahim, the activists  warned that “the unprecedented levels of violence that have seen several people either killed, maimed, kidnapped or intimidated for political reasons pose the single most significant threat to the conduct of general elections beginning in only a few days.”

 The Situation Room attributed the violence mostly to the actions of incumbent Governors in specific states that have sought to prevent opposition parties from equal access to public venues for campaigns. They specifically listed states where incumbents have tried to limit opposition access to public venues as including: Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Imo, Nasarrawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Benue.