A Civil Society Organization, Civil Society Organization for Credible Election, has blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the pockets of violence recorded in last Saturday”s by-election in Ngor Okpala area of Imo State.
It noted that its officers who monitored the election for the Ngor Okpala State Constituency observed that PDP stalwarts were found culpable of instigating violence in some wards in the local government.
According to Engr Evaristus Ogbonnaya, leader of Civil Society Organization for Credible Election, it was hypocritical for PDP to turn around and blame APC for the violence whereas its own agent precipitated it.
Ogbonnaya who spoke at a press conference in Owerri accused PDP thugs of even kidnapping his own men who were duly accredited to monitor the polls.
He cited Ward 7 as an example where PDP thugs hijacked election materials and chased voters away.
” The thugs beat up a former Commissioner in the State from that Ward, while field reports indicated that they inflicted heavy bodily harm on some voters”, he disclosed.
Ogbonnaya condemned what he described as the attitude of PDP in crying wolf whenever its candidates lose election.
He said: ” It’s really nauseating for a party to throw tantrums anytime it loses election. As far as the Ngor Okpala by- election is concerned, PDP lost. Period.”
He however urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agents to commence the prosecution of those PDP thugs apprehended during the election.