APGA, Soludo’s Support Groups Shelve Victory Party

• Over IPoB’s sit-at-home order

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM, AWKA – Fears of the unknown over the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB)’s sit-at-home directive have inadvertently put on hold the planned victory celebrations of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and some Support Groups following their candidate’s emergence as the Governor-elect of Anambra state.

Amid the euphoria of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring Professor Chukwuma Soludo as the winner of the Saturday, November 6, 2021, gubernatorial election, the APGA leadership, and its allies failed to roll out the drums as expected to celebrate the hard-won victory.

According to some top shots of the State ruling party, the IPoB’s sit-at-home order really disrupted their plans because the pro-Biafra agitators’ leader, Nnamdi Kanu was scheduled to appear in court for trial on the same day and their supporters had threatened to deal with those that disobeys the directive.

With IPoB’s threat hanging in the air, the early Wednesday morning declaration of Soludo as the winner by the INEC Returning Officer for the governorship election and Vice-Chancellor, University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi did nothing to ginger APGA faithful and supporters to embark on any victory celebration.

Chairman of Soludo’s 24 support groups in the State, Sir Jude Emecheta, told some reporters that the current security situation in the State would not accommodate any elaborate celebration at this time.

According to him, there is palpable fear among residents that they could be attacked by hoodlums for storming the streets to celebrate the APGA victory.

Emecheta said since there is time for everything, the support groups would gauge the security situation and decide on their next line of action.

He further explained thus; “The leader of IPOB went to court on Wednesday and before then, there had been threats from all angles and people decided to respect themselves by staying indoors. Sincerely, the situation is not good for us but what do we do in such respect, rather than to obey. APGA will celebrate the victory, but we should skip today.”

Speaking in the same light, Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Awka Community, Chief Obi Ochije, also blamed the IPoB’s directive for the lull in activities marking the victory by APGA.

Hear him; “Nobody wants to die. Everybody is afraid to come out. You can see how quiet everywhere in the state is because Nnamdi Kanu was brought to the Court. This is a situation we have to live with for a long time and Ndigbo are gradually getting used to it. It’s unfortunate.”

However, explaining the low-keyed celebrations, Anambra State chapter Chairman of APGA, Sir Norbert Obi, attributed it to the stress from the campaigns and urged the Anambra people to exercise patience as the party puts in motion plans to celebrate Soludo’s triumph at the poll

Obi said; “People want to rest in their houses after so much stress occasioned by the campaigns and other things, we are not afraid, but APGA will do the needful soon.” – Additional report from the Nation report