We’re not interested in elections, want referendum – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has it has no interest in the forthcoming general elections as all it wants is referendum to exit Nigeria.

The IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday described the forthcoming general elections as a jamboree.

The proscribed separatist group, however, dissociated itself from incessant attacks on facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission in some parts of the South-East, especially within the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and Orsuihiteukwa in the Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.

Powerful also disowned a rumoured fresh sit-at-home order in the South-East.

He said, “IPOB condemns the recent attacks on INEC offices and staff in Ihiala LGA, Anambra State. The criminal gangs operating within Ihiala LGA and Orsuihiteukwa in Orsu LGA, Imo State are primarily funded and sponsored by unscrupulous politicians to demonise IPOB and ESN operatives.

“We maintain that we have no interest in the selection process called the Nigerian election. Hence, we refrained from making any statement concerning the jamboree. Our only demand is a referendum date for us to decide our political, social and economic future either in a united Nigeria or as an independent Biafran nation.

“IPOB and ESN operatives did not ask any group to attack INEC facilities for whatever reason, nor did we issue any sit-at-home order within the election period.

“Anybody linking IPOB to the malicious sit-at-home order must be very ignorant. IPOB has its own channels to disseminate information, whether through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, or through an official IPOB memo signed by the Head of the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Chika Edoziem. Any IPOB public information that is not from the above-mentioned channels should be disregarded.

“The attacks on INEC facilities within this period are not supported by IPOB, because that will not add any positive value to our struggle. We are only seeking Biafran freedom through peaceful means and not through violence.”