By PETER OKUTU
Ebonyi State chapter of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, said it had uncovered plots by the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to cause massive confusion and violence in opponent’s catchments’ areas during tomorrow’s rerun House of Assembly election in Ohaozara West constituency of the state.

The party also alleged that the plot by PDP would also permeate into the April general election, adding that the ruling party had recruited thugs to harass voters and opponents, especially in ANPP-controlled  areas of the state.

Addressing a press conference in Abakaliki, Wednesday, the governorship candidate of ANPP in the state, Senator Julius Ali Ucha, who accused the PDP of wanton imposition of crimes on opponents, recounted how some agents loyal to PDP allegedly threatened to kill four members of ANPP who were busy pasting his posters at Uburu in Ohaozara local government area of the state.

But the governorship candidate of PDP in the state, Engr. Dave Umahi, in a swift reaction, said Ucha’s allegation was the ranting of a drowning man, stressing that the ANPP candidate should be disregarded.

According to Senator Ucha, “on February 15, 2011, four ANPP members, led by Mr. Sunday Nwogwu went to Uburu to paste my posters, just as they were busy doing their lawful duties, some members of PDP thugs alleged to be the agents of the former state chairman of PDP, now PDP deputy governorship nominee in Ebonyi State, Mr. David Umahi, blocked them with their vehicles.

“They threatened to kill the ANPP members, asking them if they were not afraid of coming to Uburu to paste posters. They appealed to the PDP thugs not to kill them but to take them to the police, which they did after several hours of persuasion and appeals.”

“It is important to note that the same thugs who have been terrorizing the people of Uburu with guns were armed by PDP to cause confusion and violence during Saturday, February 19, rerun election in Ohaozara West state constituency.

“It is embarrassing that the deputy governorship nominee is associated with arming thugs to generate crisis, tension and violence among his kinsmen in his inordinate ambition to win election by hook or crook.”

But in a reaction, the governorship candidate for PDP in the state, Engr. Dave Umahi in a conversation with Vanguard noted: “I don’t know what he is talking about. Ucha is a drowning politician who is known for causing confusion in the state.

“He is not contesting any election. He should be disregarded. He is the arrow head of Abuja group crisis in the state when he was Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Concerning Saturday rerun election, Umahi expressed optimism that PDP would win the election, adding that the ruling party was not contesting the election with any other party in the state.

He said: “We are not contesting election with anybody. The security agents should do their job to ensure peace during the election.

“We are optimistic that PDP will win. ANPP should not import thugs into Uburu. That arrangement will not work.” He noted

Ucha, called on the Inspector General of Police, the Director of SSS and all the security Chiefs in the country to intervene in the present political tension now pervading the entire state.

According to him, their intervention, including that of the President Goodluck Jonathan, will help to safeguard the country’s nascent democracy from total collapse.