The Labour Party (LP) has reacted to allegations that thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were attacking South Easterners attempting to register for their Permanent Voter Cards in Lagos State (PVC).<\/p>\n
It was gathered that Igbo indigenes in Lagos have mobilized themselves to obtain their PVC to vote in the 2023 general elections.<\/p>\n
There were viral videos on social media claiming that Igbos were attacked by hoodlums while the PVC machine was carted away when they attempted to register at the local government office at the popular Alaba International Market in Ojo.<\/p>\n
Hoodlums allegedly stormed registration centers in Ojo, Amuwo-Odofin, Ago Palace Way, and parts of Isolo.<\/p>\n
It was also claimed that Igbo registrants in Ikotun-Egbe, Ejigbo, and Idimu were given pieces of paper instead of their PVCs.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Saturday by the Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, the party said its attention was drawn to what it called the \u201ccoordinated attack launched by miscreants and misfit political thugs loyal the APC led administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Nigerian Citizens from South-Eastern Nigeria in various parts of Lagos State.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the statement made available to newsmen, the LP described as quite alarming and highly frightful that in today\u2019s Nigeria, \u201cthe Lagos State APC Government could officially promote and sponsor open terrorism on the Igbos to stop them from registering for and obtaining voter cards across many points in the State.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arabambi regretted that \u201cthe Igbos are attacked and brutalized at the registration centres very heavily.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement read: \u201cMost Igbos in the neighbourhood of over 66% have up to now been unable to register and or obtain their PVC officially which is scheduled to end very soon. These are people who do pay taxes and do contribute largely to the economy of Lagos State.<\/p>\n
The question is: why do the Igbos suddenly become targets for crude electoral terrorism in Lagos where they are landlords, business owners and very highly productive workers?<\/p>\n