By Bukola Olasanmi
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has vehemently denied plans of truncating the 2023 general elections.
The group said it doesn’t have such intentions.
IPOB in a statement issued on Monday and signed by Emma Powerful, its spokesperson dissociated itself from attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Imo State.
The pro-Biafra movement, therefore, told security agencies to stop linking it with the senseless attacks on INEC facilities.
“ESN operatives never attacked INEC office because we are not interested in this Nigeria’s forthcoming election in 2023. Anyone or group blaming IPOB or ESN for any attack on INEC facilities is under the influence of some powerful drugs.
“IPOB will not spare anybody using our name to disrupt election, and nobody should link us with those who are destroying election materials.”
IPOB challenged the security agencies on why no arrests had been made of the purported attackers if they were truly IPOB members.
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“Both Government agencies and those attacking INEC facilities are working together to blackmail IPOB.
“That is why the same security agencies have never arrested any of the so called attackers.
“Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said it several times that he has not asked anyone to carry out any attack on his behalf. Therefore, nobody should link us with the attack on INEC offices.
”IPOB is a civilized and disciplined Biafra Independence movement. We are not criminals nor are we part of their election thugs.”
IPOB accused politicians of recruiting criminals and hoodlums “to attack election materials and blame it on IPOB and ESN.”
The statement, however, said that no amount of sponsored blackmail against IPOB would stop the agitation for Biafra restoration, adding that it will rather fuel the agitation.
”Neither IPOB nor ESN operatives have anything to do with Nigeria elections in 2023.”