The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi chapter, says it has uncovered a plot by a major political party to disrupt the March 11 elections in Ebonyi.

Austin Edeze, the director-general of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council, who did not name the party, stated this during a press conference on Sunday in Abakaliki.

Mr Edeze alleged that the party had procured and distributed over 1,500 AK-47 rifles to its agents to cause mayhem and guarantee its victory in the March 11 elections in the state.

He also leged that the guns were distributed four per ward across the 171 wards in Ebonyi.

He called on the security agencies in the state to step in and mop up illegal arms and ammunition in the hands of hoodlums and other unlicensed persons in the state ahead of the polls.

Mr Edeze emphasised that PDP was robbed of its presidential victory in the state and would not allow that to be repeated in the governorship election.

“Having been robbed, I’m not sure we will be robbed again. We are aware that a certain political party, out of fear of losing the election and sheer desperation, has shared AK-47 rifles in the 171 wards in the state,” said the PDP chief. “You can imagine how many we have in each ward.” 

He added, “We have over 1,500 AK-47 rifles waiting to be used in the next election. We will not be silent. We shall protect our votes, and we shall win. The PDP governorship candidate will come out victorious in the March l1 election.”

Mr Edeze called on the police, the SSS, the army and other security agencies to guarantee the safety of voters and “the sanctity of the ballot in the March 11 election.”

On the alleged killing of Ozoemena Nkwuda, a PDP supporter, and a serving corps member at a polling unit in the Izzi council area by suspected political thugs during the last presidential election, Mr Edeze urged the police to fish out the killers and bring them to justice. 

(NAN)