Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has tasked his party faithful to ensure that ballot papers are counted at the polling units, and results declared thereon before moving to the collection center.
Nwifuru gave the charge at Ejikewu Primary School in Edda Local Government Area of the State while addressing supporters of the APC during the campaign grand finale for the forthcoming bye-election.
He also called on the people of Edda to take charge, show capacity, and strength during the election by making sure that they don’t allow members of the opposition parties to intimidate them in the February 3rd Ebonyi South senatorial bye-election.
Nwifuru said, “If you did not vote for Professor Anthony very well, not that he will not win. We want him to win comprehensively. Do not give space to anybody; it has gotten to the point of no return. Do not give space to anybody that fateful Saturday. From the local government area, start showing capacity. Do not allow anybody to intimidate you; you are the one that is supposed to intimidate them.
“This time around, we are no more playing; we are playing politics. It is now pure politics from tomorrow. My language is changing till after Saturday; I will become the father of all. If Professor Anthony fails, will you be happy to be in the party?
“I should inform and encourage you that our enemies are not sleeping. They are doing everything within their reach to technically outsmart us. Go and tell them that we are more than the birds. We are waiting for them; we are ever prepared.
“Number one thing, to you all our agents, every machine that comes to your polling units, open them and check them, see the number. Once they finish the voting, they should count the ballot papers there and write the result in your presence in favor of your party.
“That is the only language I want to hear, do not give them space. Do not give anybody space and do not be a gentleman at that moment of election. Take charge, show strength and show capacity. Instead of you not to win your polling booth, if you are a real politician, do everything within your reach to make sure you win your polling booth.
“You cannot tell me that you are a council chairman and you fail election in your local government area. I will not support that council chairman for a second tenure, but I know this council chairman; he is a quality person. I know him for that. But I am not promising him my support until after Saturday, including the councillors.
“The party chairman has already made a postulation yesterday that anybody that fails his local government, ward, polling unit, even the party chairman will resign. If that happens in his polling unit and ward, he will resign. I am with the party chairman in that decision,” Nwifuru stated.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of APC, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, in his part, assured that his local government will deliver APC 100 percent.
Others who spoke, including the council chairman Chima Ekuma Nkama, assured Governor Nwifuru that his council will not disappoint him in the forthcoming election.
