Elections: Ohanaeze raises alarm on situations in Lagos, Imo

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo has raised the alarm over situations in Lagos state and the threat to lives of Ndigbo residing in Lagos.

He also expressed worry over alleged hostage taking of electoral officers in Imo state by Governor Rochas Okorocha, noting the Residents Electoral Commissioner in Imo state said his life was on danger.

Nwodo however acknowledged the concern of apex Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, for condemning the disenfranchisement of Igbo voters in parts of Lagos state.

Nwodo in a statement in Enugu raised some concerns. He said: “Forty-eight hours after our elections, we still have no results. There is hardly any voter in Nigeria, who does not know the results of elections in his polling booth. The INEC server is down, yanked off by INEC. Conflicting results dominate the social media.

“The two major national parties claim contradictory victories. Returning officers in Rivers and Imo claim to be under siege, being executed by a minister and a governor respectively. Igbos in Lagos are being threatened for exercising their civic rights to vote. This morning, they were stopped from opening their market stalls in Oshodi.

“The Acting Inspector General of Police refused to pick my three calls to him. The Oba of Lagos remains quiet. The Governor of Lagos State makes no broadcast. The safety of more than four million Igbos living in Lagos seems to be of no concern to him. The Jagaban threatens Igbos to relocate, if they do not vote for his party.

“Thanks to Afenifere for its salutary and comforting voice. The Commander- in- Chief, maintains an ominous silence. The International Community wonders what a country this is. Professor Yakubu Mahmood be warned. Remember 1966. Remember 1983. Our democracy was upturned on those two occasions for the action or inaction of our electoral commission.

“Governor Umahi, you cannot be Chairman of South-East Governors and remain unconcerned about the plight of Igbos in Lagos and unperturbed by the manipulation of our votes in the South-East. History is recording our action and inaction.

“I appeal to Igbos to remain calm and law-abiding while remaining resolute on our resolve to seize the moment of this election to change the character of our governance. May the Almighty God save our country from sliding into another crisis.”