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Ahead of the March 18, 2023 governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Nigeria, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in Enugu State has called on the security agencies to invite, investigate, and place under surveillance, the state Chairman of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Mr. Ogbonna Festus Okafor over inciting statements.

The call followed what CRPP described as “baseless, unfounded and fake news being published by Ogbonna Festus Okafor about impending but unrealistic crisis in Enugu State.”

The CUPP’s Okafor had alleged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State was equipping political thugs to scuttle the forthcoming governorship election.

CRPP maintained that if Ogbonna Festus Okafor and the CUPP in the state were not restrained, his unguarded utterances, inciting publications “are capable of causing breach of the peace in the state.”

The CRPP stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Monday 13, March 2023, and signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Afam Ani and Ken Ikeh respectively.

The CRPP expressed deep concern that Ogbonna Festus Okafor may have been briefed “to truncate the peaceful progress of election in the state.

“Ogbonna Festus Okafor has published abusive, libelous, inordinate base languages and hate speeches with the sole intention to create fear and apprehension among the people in order to dampen voters interest in the election.

“CRPP further states that they cannot fold arms and allow Ogbonna Festus OKAFOR to execute his political banditry in Enugu State.

“It is on record that the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), representing South East and the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Police Command had consultative meeting with all the political parties involved in the Governorship and House of Assembly election on 8th March 2023 at the Police Officers Mess, Agbani Road Enugu.

“It is also known to everyone that Ogbonna Festus Okafor was neither in attendance nor represented in the all-important meeting where parties and candidates reaffirmed their faith and commitment to the Peace Accord earlier signed in view of the election.

“It is therefore curious that Ogbonna Festus Okafor could suddenly wake up to raise false alarm and attempt to join the respected Council of Southeast Traditional Rulers and the Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers in his infamous job of unsettling the political ecosystem in Enugu State.

“We call on everyone to be wary of the dubious and mischievous antics of Ogbonna Festus OKAFOR and his co travellers as they are bent on misleading the security agencies in order to set them on a wild goose chase.

“CRPP urge the security agencies to invite, investigate and place under surveillance Ogbonna Festus Okafor.

“We further urge NdiEnugu to come out to exercise their franchise and encourage all candidates in the election to play by the rules”, the CRPP stated.