Senatorial Candidate Alleges Threat To His Life

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Senatorial Candidate for Enugu North, Chief Willy Ezugwu has raised the alarm over threats to his life and those of members of his campaign organization, saying that what he once regarded as attempt to intimidate him is fast taking on a new dimension.

In a statement issued on yesterday, Ezugwu disclosed that he was earlier forced to apply to the Inspector General of Police for protection but that those who feel challenged by the rising popularity of his candidacy have intensified attempts on his person to prove that they are not deterred by the security provided by the police.

“In addition to targeting me, these desperate people have now expanded their attacks to members of my campaign organization.

“My Director of Administration, Chief Charles Ezugwu was waylaid by men in a Toyota Hilux pickup on Tuesday and was only saved by his quick thinking when he ran into a crowded premise. He has been underground since and this incident was appropriately reported to the police authorities in the zone.

“I see this as the continuation of efforts to intimidate me out of the race, which started as series of phone calls and SMS messages asking me to drop from the race or be killed.

The statement appealed to the Inspector General of Police and Enugu state police commissioner to help check the activities of politicians who resort to using thugs and scare tactics in the senatorial zone to forestall killings of perceived political opponents.

It noted that politics is never a do or die affairs particularly when APGA and the PDP have a history of cordial working relationship.

“APGA has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP presidential candidate, at the federal level while it also endorsed Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the PDP’s governorship candidate in Enugu State,  so it becomes difficult to fathom why APGA’s senatorial candidate should become the target of life threatening attacks.

“I urge Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime to, as the leader of PDP in the state, call his party’s candidate in Enugu North to order.

“The electioneering process should be issue based but tragically, what is going on the senatorial district is not even about name calling but a situation that has escalated to the point of life and death. This is simply unacceptable.” Ezugwu added.

Ezugwu called on international and local election observers to help document the ongoing systematic intimidation and threatening of his life and members of his party in the state.