No fewer than half a dozen members of the Isu State Constituency APC candidate’s supporters were seriously injured as the convoy of Chief Emeka Ihedioha, The People’s Democratic party (PDP) Governorship candidate, blocked and inflicted bodily wounds on the aides of the APC Assembly candidate for Isu State Constituency, Chief (Mrs.) Ngozi Obiefule, the Mayor of Akah city, at Umundugba, Isu LGA, on Wednesday instant.
Eye witnesses said Chief Ihedioha was at Isu to canvas for votes and to ensure that PDP State Assembly candidate for Isu, Chief Modestus Osakwe gets strong leverage to with stand all forces in readiness for the Guber/State assembly polls coming up Saturday, April 11, 2015.
According to the witnesses, trouble ensued when one of the POWER BYKES Operators in Hon. Ihedioha’s convoy obstructed the APC candidate’s Acura MDX car few meters off Ofege patrol station, very close to the new General Hospital site being built by Governor Okorocha in Isu LGA at about 4.28PM. The commissioned expert rider blocked the Mayor’s car while fierce-looking, large breasted men trooped out from their bus smashing the window screen and glasses of the car and pulling off the fenders and bumblers of the Vehicle with registration number Abuja FL 475 ABJ.
Six of the aides of the APC candidate were beaten to states of stupor and later rushed to Obinwa-Chukwuka Clinic off Nwaorie Mkpu Square in Ekwe Autonomous Community for medical attention.
At the hospital one of the victims, Mr. Chinedu Iheme from Uloano Ndugba in Isu LGA. told newsmen that over 15 armed uniformed men descended on him with sticks, and other dangerous weapons tearing his APC shirt and striping him half naked.
When contacted the APC candidate said that she was the target of the attack but that they were unlucky she was not in the vehicle.
When newsmen visited the residence of Chief (Mrs.) Ngozi Obiefule at Umuiche village in Isuokporo Autonomous Community, Isu LGA, the husband of the Mayor, Air commodore Jude Obiefule (Rtd) said he has been nursing the wounds inflicted on him by the hoodlums who were in Emeka Ihedioha’s entourage, adding that he instructed the wife’s aides not to retaliate which they obeyed.
Natives of Umundugba, the Isu LGA headquarters said the incident was the first ungentlemanly behavior by any campaign group.
A cross section of Isu people who spoke on the incident condemned the action of Ihedioha and his group which they said had become an anthem in the honourable member’s camp, adding that no amount of intimidation can make Isu people to vote against their wish. It will be recalled that the SA to Governor Okorocha on Media, had complained of similar assault visited on him and his brothers and that he was detained throughout the duration of the Presidential and National Assembly election at the instance of Emeka Ihedioha and his thugs who accused him falsely of possessing fire arms and other dangerous weapons.
When contacted on phone to comment on the allegation that Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s convoy, security details and thugs attacked the Isu APC State House of Assembly candidate, the Media Aide to Ihedioha, Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu, denied any such incident. He described his boss as a peace loving and human candidate who has come at the right time to liberate Imo people from bondage and familocracy. He aligned with President Goodluck Jonathan’s mantra, that the election of the next Governor of Imo State is not worth the life of any individual and wondered why APC people would engage in cheap blackmail and propaganda against a peace loving Emeka Ihedioha.
