The Coalition of Imo Young Professionals (CIYP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the Nov. 11 governorship election in Imo is free, fair and credible.

CTYP national coordinator, Chukwuemeka Emmanuel, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Emmanuel said that recent media reports from the state were worrisome as they raised some concern over the possibility of a non-fair and uncredible election in November.

“This includes the issue of insecurity and the political persecution of some traditional rulers in a particular senatorial district of the state for their reception of a particular opposition gubernatorial candidate.

“Our research has revealed to us that most people are favourably disposed to the idea of having Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, popularly known as Sen. Samdaddy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) getting voted into power in November, as the next governor of Imo.

“In line with this popular hope and aspiration of the good people of Imo State, the CIYP, today hereby calls for free and fair election in Imo in November, so as to enable the people of the state to bring Anyanwu to power as their next governor.

“Today, we wish, first and foremost to call on President Bola Tinubu, the father of modern progressive politics in Nigeria, to please use his good offices as the President of the Federal Republic, to enforce free and fair election in Imo come November 2023,’’ he said.

He added: “In the same vein, we wish to call on the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Service, and all national security chiefs that will deploy their personnel for electoral day duties during Imo 2023, to patriotically bear true allegiance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic.

“They should do this by esteeming democratic integrity as a non-negotiable value far above all other possible considerations on Imo 2023.”

Mr Emmanuel also called on the people of the state to begin to make plans on how to legitimately use their power to ensure freedom and fairness during the state gubernatorial election and use the ballot box to elect candidates of their choice in the November election.

He also called on all well-meaning Nigerians to deploy all legitimate means and powers at their disposal to help the state to have free and fair election in November.

He said the people of the state wanted Mr Anyanwu as their next governor because of his accessibility to the grassroots, his faithfulness in public service and their confidence in him to restore security of lives and property in the state.

(NAN)