Anambra Labour Party Lawmakers Accuse Governor Soludo of Using Thugs, Non-State Security to Influence Bye-Elections
Ahead of Saturday’s fiercely contested bye-elections in Anambra State, the Labour Party (LP) Caucus in the National Assembly has accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of plotting to use thugs and non-state security operatives to intimidate voters.
The elections for the Onitsha North 1 State Assembly seat and the Anambra South senatorial zone have drawn intense political attention, with the LP alleging that state-controlled agents loyal to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) are being positioned to disrupt the process.
In a joint statement signed by Senators Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye, along with six House of Representatives members, the lawmakers urged top security chiefs to intervene. They called for full deployment of personnel from the police, army, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to guarantee safety and restore voter confidence.
The caucus specifically accused the state government of planning to deploy members of the Udogachi security outfit, revenue enforcers known as Ndi Aka Odo, and other non-state actors to take control of polling points in areas where APGA candidates are contesting.
“It would be foolhardy to allow the Governor to take charge of security arrangements, especially as that would confer undue advantage on his party,” the statement read.
The lawmakers described the bye-elections as a litmus test for Nigeria’s commitment to free and fair elections, warning that skewing the process would undermine democratic governance. They also highlighted the case of the Onitsha North 1 seat, where the LP candidate is a widow whose husband the former lawmaker representing the constituency was kidnapped and killed.
With political parties, observers, and the media closely watching, the lawmakers insisted all players must “play by the rules” to ensure a peaceful and credible outcome.
