Former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been charged by the Abia State administration with inciting political unrest in the state by making statements at his private home in Umuobiakwa, Obingwa LGA.
According to a statement released by the state administration on Tuesday, the event included a variety of residents as well as his former aides and political associates.
Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information, signed the statement, which claimed that Ikpeazu’s call for the meeting was ill-timed and in violation of both the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) rules governing political campaigns in Nigeria and the constitution.
Although Ikpeazu did not formally announce his intention to run for office, the Commissioner pointed out that his explicit directive to his audience to “deliver their booths and units” during the next elections clearly marks the beginning of a political campaign. Kanu claimed that this action violates INEC’s established regulations.
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The Abia government said the former governor’s recent actions were unworthy of a former governor and could instigate instability in the state’s calm, while also urging him to enjoy his rights to free speech and association in accordance with the law.
Therefore, it is absurd that Dr. Ikpeazu decided to use this unlawful platform to begin a savage campaign of insults and disinformation against the current administration in addition to using it to organize politically. In addition to being disrespectful to the position he once held, such careless remarks run the risk of igniting discontent and upending the tranquility that Abians today enjoy.
“We would want to send out one more reminder that the campaign prohibition has not been removed and that anyone running for office at this time is breaching the law and attempting to inflame the political climate. The government will not watch helplessly while that occurs.
