PDP Cries out over destrcution of Jonathan's posters, Bill Boards in Anambra

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state has bitterly cried out to Gov Willie Obiano and agents of his administration over what it described as the continuous vandalization, defacing and destruction of campaign posters, billboards and other materials of her candidates and members, including those of President Goodluck Jonathan in parts of the state.

The party, according to Prince Ken Emeakayi, a the leader of the PDP Contact and Mobilization Committee of the Presidential campaign council in the state, has already formally petitioned the security agencies including the Police, the State Security Service, the Army, the Navy and the state governor amongst others over the matter.

Emeakayi who is one of the leaders of the party in the state noted that they have chosen the part of honour, discipline and peace by severally restraining her members who have been rearing to react and go on the offensive, because PDP is a disciplined party with cherished codes and ethics; that they have therefore given the governor a benefit of doubt to call his men to order, to avoid the situation from degenerating into an open conflict; that they were aware the antagonistic moves were to cause disaffection and anger amongst other candidates for a fight to break out.

The PDP chieftain caution all political actors in the state to endeavor to play by the rules, eschew thuggery and use of foul language against each other, noting that politics remain an honourable game of wits, words and number, where only those with at testable character and superior points of argument prevail.

He said, "we have received several complaints from most of our candidates that members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) and All Progressives Congress(APC) have been destroying, defacing and vandalizing PDP billboards, posters and handbills and other campaign materials in parts of the state..."

He wondered the state of mind of those who decide not to go on campaign tours to the electorates but devote time to plan on how to attack the popular PDP candidates, especially Mr President. He therefore urged the governor and other party leaders to step into the matter immediately and restore sanity thereto.

On the new bye-law by the state Assembly on campaigns by those they saw as not among the candidates whose names were published by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), who have pending cases in courts on their nomination, Emeakayi described the law as a waste of effort by those behind it.

He said the move was a clear mockery of what a legislator should be doing because the matter was ultra vires the powers of a state Assembly, since laws guiding elections in Nigeria were federal laws. Hence the state Assemblies have no powers to legislate over same; that this shows that the state Assembly acts arbitrarily without sound research and legal counsel.

Again, he said that there was nowhere in the Electoral Act where it was written that anyone whose name was not published by INEC should not campaign for the election if he has an issue pending. He said that after all the PDP has forwarded names of her candidates who were well known.

Emeakayi accused Gov Obiano's APGA of being very afraid of the top-of-the-shelf candidates PDP presented and then resorted to acts of brigandage and intimidation. He asserted that no one can ever intimidate any candidate or member of PDP anywhere for whatever reason.

From Chuks Collins, Awka, Anambra State