By  Dennis AGBO, Abakaliki
TENSION has gripped Ebonyi State following the local government council electios that will not hold today in all the 215 wards if the 13 local government areas of the state. In addition there are  64 development council areas created by the state outside the 13 constitutionally recognized councils.
Only three political parties, namely: the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA and the Action Congress, AC, are participating in the election as confirmed by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, but the heat is being generated between the PDP and its rival PPA.

The tension  stemmed from the outcome of the PDP primaries where many party stalwarts were allegedly short changed and shut out of participation in selecting their councilors and chairmanship candidates. The aggrieved PDP bigwigs, therefore, allegedly swore to work against their party, preferably through the PPA.

The situation brought about the former Governor of Abia State and the BOT Chairman of the PPA, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu’s investment of over N13b in the Ebonyi PPA to procure forms for the PPA candidates making the PPA to pride itself as the option for transparency and the disenfranchised.

PDP chairman in the state, Mr. Dave Umahi even went on to accuse the electoral umpire, EBSIEC, of taking sides with the PPA in acceptance of candidates.

Swiftly, the state house of assembly through an executive bill passes into law an amendment of the state electoral act to reflect option A4, an open secret method of voting where voters are now expected to queue behind candidates of their choice.

The PPA immediately interpreted the sudden amendment without public hearing as a way of checking the aggrieved PDP members who had vowed to vote against the PDP.

The PPA, and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in a last minute scamper, cried foul alleging that the PDP is using intimidation, kidnapping, arson and brigandage against the opposition political parties in the state.

In separate press briefings, the PPA in particular alleged that in Ohaukwu council area for instance, the incumbent local government chairman, Sunday Iyiama, supervised kidnappings of sort against the PPA candidates and members in the local government.

The opposition party also cited violent aggression against the party by the PDP in Afikpo south local government area and some other council areas.

Shortly after the opposition parties’ allegation, Chief Martin Elechi in a state_wide broadcast announced that fake and illegal currency notes were in circulation in the area. He displayed samples of the fake naira notes, saying, “The people of Ebonyi state, and indeed, all Nigerians, should be careful about the mint naira notes which now come their way, especially in N500 and N1000 denominations”.

Meanwhile, a group within the PDP in the state had petitioned both the party hierarchy and INEC, calling for suspension of the election. There are also three law suits at the state High court calling for the suspension of the election for two breaches of both the PDP method of filling candidates and the state’s sudden promulgation of open ballot system that the group contends is inconsistent with National assembly law on electoral matters.

Governor Elechi in the state broadcast said that “the enemies of freedom are wrecking harm and death on innocent citizens for political reasons. In the last three days, two cases of stabbing have been reported in Afikpo South Local Government Area: the first resulting to death, while the second left the victim in a critical state of unconsciousness”.

The governor who immediately after the broadcast went into a closed door meeting with major stakeholders in the state added that “Intelligence has also revealed that arrangements are being made to cause violence, particularly in Ebonyi and Afikpo South Local Government Areas. For the planners of such dastardly acts, the intention is not to win the election, but to destabilize the state and give the impression that this administration cannot hold our people together. All I can say to them is, let them come, and let them not run away”, he threatened.

Infuriated Governor Elechi said that the second option adopted by the planners, obviously his political opposition elements was to take advantage of the poverty of his people by distributing to them fake and illegal currencies. He recalled that he gave 10_day ultimatum for owners of unauthorized weapons to surrender them in designated locations in the 13 local government areas in the state that expired last Wednesday.

“I am pleased to announce that there has been substantial positive response to my appeal, even though it is well known fact that some communities and individuals are still in possession of dangerous weapons unauthorized”.

Elechi said that with the expiration of the deadline his administration would not extend the time for submission of the arms saying that, “Instead, the law shall take its course, we gave an undertaking to cause a refund of the cost or reasonable proportion of the cost of such weapons to their owners, as soon as necessary documentations are completed, we shall honour our undertaking”.

He enjoined people of the state to go about the election, voting candidates of their choice.