BY Samuel Akpan
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has condemned the alleged police assault on Okonkwo Kenneth, a councillorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), during the local government elections in Anambra state.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats during the September 8 LGA elections.
In a statement on Monday, Chinyere Kalu, IPAC’s spokesperson, criticised the attack on Kenneth, a person with disability (PWD), by police officers at his polling unit in Otolo Ward 1, Nnewi north LGA.
“The unprovoked attack on Kenneth, including the use of tear gas to subdue him, is outrageous, barbaric, and despicable,” the statement reads.
“It is more pathetic as the candidate is living with disability and was in the polling unit to exercise his franchise.”
IPAC noted that instead of protecting Kenneth, the “police officers assaulted and dehumanized” him.
“There are no second-class citizens in this country, Nigerians should be treated with respect and dignity particularly while exercising their civic duty,” the statement adds.
“Police neutrality during elections is critical to the survival of democracy in Nigeria. They are deployed to polling units to provide security so as not to disrupt elections and assault voters and candidates of opposition parties.
“IPAC will take up this matter to ensure justice is served. Council has been in the vanguard for free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections. Participatory polls are the bedrock of sustainable democracy and development.”
The council urged the inspector-general of police to take “swift action” against the officers responsible for the attack.
When contacted, Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson for the Anambra state police command, advised the candidate to file a formal complaint.
“The duty of the police is to protect lives and properties, not to do otherwise,” Ikenna said.
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