IPOB Declare Stand on 2023 Poll
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said it has no intention of disrupting the 2023 general elections.
This was contained in a press release issued Monday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, noting that it has no interest in the exercise.
The pro-Biafra group also distanced itself from attacks on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC facility in Imo State.
Therefore, IPOB warned security organisations to cease connecting it to the foolish assaults on INEC installations.
For those who damage INEC facilities while purporting to be acting on behalf of the pro-Biafra agitation, IPOB has threatened harsh punishment.
“ESN operatives never attacked the INEC office because we are not interested in this Nigeria’s forthcoming election in 2023. Anyone or group blaming IPOB or ESN for any attack on INEC facilities is under the influence of some powerful drugs.
“IPOB will not spare anybody using our name to disrupt the election, and nobody should link us with those destroying election materials.”
IPOB accused security organisations of hiding information regarding the real perpetrators of the attacks on INEC premises.
If the alleged attackers were IPOB members, IPOB questioned the security authorities on why no arrests had been made of them.
“Both Government agencies and those attacking INEC facilities are working together to blackmail IPOB.
“That is why the same security agencies have never arrested any so-called attackers.
“Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said several times that he has not asked anyone to carry out any attack on his behalf. Therefore, nobody should link us with the attack on INEC offices.
” IPOB is a civilised and disciplined Biafra Independence movement. We are not criminals, nor are we part of their election thugs.”
The group blamed politicians for recruiting criminals and hoodlums “to attack election materials and blame it on IPOB and ESN.”
“Neither IPOB nor ESN operatives have anything to do with Nigeria’s fraud elections in 2023.
“We have never supported nor involved ourselves in any election obstruction or violence as a movement. The only action we can take is to call our people to boycott voting if the need arises. But as of today, IPOB is not interested in Nigeria and its electoral activities and has never asked anyone to carry out any attack on our behalf.
“For the Nigeria Government and her Police to link IPOB and ESN with the attacks on INEC offices has shown that they are misguided, deceitful, and don’t know the norms on which IPOB operates.”
“Nigeria Government and her security agencies are working day and night to blackmail the IPOB self-determination movement. Criminals attack government facilities, and they rush to the media to blame the attacks on IPOB and ESN without investigation.
”There has never been any time that Nigeria Police carried out any public inquiry on all the numerous attacks and arsons that they blamed IPOB for.”
