ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has said that the South-East region is safe and ready for the 2023 general elections.
The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization gave the assurance in response to the fear of insecurity expressed by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The Igbo group expressed optimism that insecurity would not be able to thwart the outcome of the polls in the region, Punch reports.
The INEC Boss had announced that insecurity might hamper elections in the South-East and North-West regions.
In the region, there has been killing by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), known to be the militant arm of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB).
According to the INEC, over 41 attacks have been carried out against its offices across 14 states since the 2019 general election, with the South-East region recording 13 attacks.
Reacting to this development, the spokesperson for Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, in an interview with Punch, described the situation as unfortunate and pitiable.
However, Ogbonnia expressed hope that the region was doing everything in its power to combat the challenge.
“We just finished the Anambra governorship polls that saw the election of Prof Charles Soludo and the election was successful. Before that election, such fears were spread but fortunately, we were able to pass through that and nothing happened.
“There was no violence of any kind. There is no doubt that the entire country is charged,” he stated.
He described as “worrisome, annoying and rather mischievous” a situation where the South-East region had always been made a reference point each time insecurity was mentioned.
“The region is relatively safe, and we’d overcome whatever challenges that are bedevilling the South-East. The region is prepared for the elections. We are far better than many other zones,” he said.