Why Abia governorship debate ended violently


It was meant to be an opportunity for contenders of governorship position to meet with the electorates. SAM OBINNA IBE, however, reports that though it was successful, the outcome has left a sour taste in the mouth of typical Abia electorate.

For those who may think that Abia state governorship election in 2019 would be a tea party, they may be living in a fool’s paradise. Therefore, if what happened on Monday 21st, January, 2019 is anything to go by, then it leaves much to be desired.

Blueprint can report that a debate organised recently among all the governorship candidates to showcase their credentials turned violent, resulting in commotion as everyone ran for safety. 

 From what transpired on that day, it does appear that  security agencies may have to put up extra effort to curtail any eventuality arising from security breaches.

So far, political observers have predicted that the 2019 governorship election may  turned out to be the most fiercely contested election ever witnessed in the state given the calibre of personalities that have shown interest in the plum office.

 Though Abia is a PDP-controlled state with  Dr Okezie Ikpeazu staging a second term bid to retain power, there is also threat from the former managing director of Diamond Bank,  Alex Otti of APGA to send PDP packing. Political pundits are of the view that Otti who, in 2015, gave PDP the strongest opposition that was unprecedented in the history of the state, is a strong contender against the ruling party. 

As if these were not enough, there is also a threat from the APC governorship candidate, Uche Ogah, the man so much loved by Abians given his philanthropist gestures acknowledged by all.

Hon Mrs Blessing Nwagba of SDP is also beating her chest as the first female governorship candidate that would win the coveted seat. The youthful  governorship candidate of Accord Party is also expressing optimism of carrying the day when the chips are down.

It was at such political charged atmosphere in Abia ahead of the forthcoming election that interest groups are maximising to create a platform by which candidates can sell themselves. One of such groups is the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN)  in conjunction with some privately owned radio stations in the state who organised a governorship debate at Abia Hotels Umuahia for those jostling to replace the incumbent, Dr IKpeazu.

On that day, four contenders: Dr  IKpeazu, Otti, Mrs Nwagba, Pastor Emeka Uwakolam all featured in the debate which though started on a good note but ended violently as students under the aegis of the National Association of Abia State students (NASS) went on rampage at the venue.

 To bring the calamitous situation under control, the  police threw tear gas and shot sporadically in the air to ensure that the governorship candidates and other dignitaries were whisked away from the venue unhurt given the  degree of the fracas by the protesting students in their thousands that came for the debate and were barred from having audience with the governor.

At the end, president of the students group was inflicted with an injury on the face, a development that further sparked off the protest.

Excluded candidates raise concern

Speaking to Blueprint, the governorship candidate of  Providence Peoples Congress (PPC) Comrade Fortunes Okoronkwo questioned the rationale behind excluding them from the debate.

He tongue lashed the organisers for the price tag which they cannot afford arguing, “Should the emphasis be for the highest bidder or who has what it takes to rescue Abia from economic doldrums?”

He lamented that by their exclusion, the organisers has rubbished the Not Too Young To Tun Bill.

On his part, the African Action Congress governorship candidate, Vincent Ubani, wondered why he should be excluded in a race having been able to secure his party ticket in a party registered by INEC.

He said, “When I heard about the debate, my happiness knew no bounds as it would afford me the opportunity to sell my candidacy to the people. I called on the organisers on how to go about it but surprisingly  they told me to pay 1million naira as a condition. When I inquired what the big sum was meant for, they told me that it was part of logistics to enable them organise the event very well”, he said.

The AAC governorship candidate frowned at the marginalisation on the ground of money, saying, “I cannot even pay half a million naira and if I have the money, I would rather deploy same to my campaign rallies.”

He, however, called for a fresh governorship debate where all candidates should be given opportunity to tell Abians what they will do if given the mandate.

Whereas the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party, (YPP)  Joseph Ngozi Nkoro, noted that he is sadden by the development of excluding the younger elements in the governorship race, he warned online media practitioners on the danger of what he called ‘selective candidates’ for debate.

When trouble actually started

As the governorship candidates were leaving the hall after the debate, hell was let loose when the National Association Nigerian Students (NANS) Abia state chapter led by  Comrade Remigus Nwazuo and thousands others sought to have audience with Dr IKpeazu but were not allowed.

Blueprint investigation shows that attempt by the students to block the governor’s way was met with stiff resistance by the security attached to the governor. In the process, their president was beaten up leading to injury. This angered students who retaliated violently by destroying vehicles, windows and doors of the event, chairs and other valuables.

In ensuing process, everyone scampered for safety in every direction they could run to even as the police threw tear gas and shots sporadically into the air to pave way for the governor to leave the venue unhurt.

Speaking with Blueprint, a political commentator Osondu Irobi said, “If ordinary governorship debate could turn out so tensed up like this, only God will predict what will happen in the election proper.” He called on security agencies to step up plans ahead of the elections.

We also organised similar debate – students

Speaking to Blueprint after the fracas, Comrade  Nwazuo said that with students population of over 3,000 they want their own voices to be heard in deciding who becomes the next governor of the state by organising their own debate at Damgrete Hotel Umuahia.

He added that they taxed themselves to raise money with which to rent the hall, ran promos on the social media and posters unfortunately their date clashed with the Online Media Practitioners. “However, on realising that the governor and other  contenderss were at Abia Hotels for the debate and so may not likely attend ours, we decided to meet him here to seek his audience.”

Nwazuo regretted that, “Rather than allow us to have chat with our governor, security men on the convoy descended on me resulting in the injury I sustained.”

He, however, vowed that no amount of intimidation would deterred the students community from demanding for good governance. He said that their input as to who governs the state must be respected.

Meanwhile, Mr Emenike Iroegbu, chairman, debate organising committee for the Online Media Practitioners regretted the ugly incident, noting that the occasion had ended on a good note before the fracas that erupted which he blamed on the students group.

He explained that no matter the circumstances, students have no power to block the convoy of the governor, more so as he was already late for PDP zonal rally in Owerri.

Leave a Reply