Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has called for proper and unbiased investigation into the alleged murder of its supporter, Ozemena Nkwuda and a corps member shot dead during last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, the director-general of the party’s campaign council, Chief Austin Edeze expressed regret that some political thugs invaded the Ndi Ogbu Market Square, Ndiogbu Inyimagu ward in Izzi local government area of the state and killed two persons.
He said the hoodlums while shooting sporadically, shot Mr Ozomena Nkwuda and a corps member adding that while Ozomena died at the spot, the corps member later died at the hospital few days ago following injuries sustained from the gunshot.
“Last election was marred by violence and irregularities. In my own polling units, a group of armed men with sienna vehicles snatched ballot boxes.
“At the collation center, they shot our member and a corps member who I learnt later died. The name of the person that was shot dead in my own polling unit, Ndi Ogbu Market Square in Ndiogbu Inyimagu ward, is Ozoemena Nkwuda. The matter was reported in Iboko police station and was about to be transferred to the state police headquarters.
“But regrettably, some politicians in APC in Izzi local government have been meeting Ozoemena family to allow them bury Ozoemena but he can’t be buried until the law takes its course. The man has a wife and three children.
“Highly placed politicians from the local government have been making frantic effort to scuttle the investigation, arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators but we are insisting that there must be justice for Ozoemena and the Corps member who came out to carry out their civic responsibility.
“We are calling on the commissioner of police not to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet. Let those who shot and killed them be brought to book because if nothing was done, they will kill more people on Saturday and still believe nothing will happen,” he said.
Edeze also called on the security agents in the state to take urgent steps and mop up all the arms allegedly imported into the state before the governorship poll for free and fair election in the state.
The party alleged that four AK-47 rifles have been distributed in each of the 171 wards across the state ahead of the governorship election in the state in addition to the ones already in circulation.
The DG called for the cancellation of the National Assembly elections in some parts of the state adding that the election was marred by violence and irregularities.