Abia Church Leaders Warn Against Rigging Of Gov’ship, Assembly Elections

Abia State church leaders yesterday warned that they will not condone any acts inimical to the conduct of free, fair, and credible governorship and state Assembly elections in the state on Saturday.

Representatives of the leaders stated this in a statement read by the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Emmanuel Agomoh in Umuahia, the state capital.

“We strongly advise the REC in the person of the administrative secretary to be careful not to allow himself to be exploited or manipulated by anybody or group to subvert the will of the people by tampering with the votes,” he said.

The leaders in the statement signed by the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev Chibuzo Opoko and 15 others called on the people to act responsibly in playing their roles during the election.

“The period of general election challenges us to see our civic and political responsibilities through the eyes of faith and to work hard to ensure that only candidates with competence and integrity are elected into offices,” he said.

In his remarks, Rev Msgr Leo Emenike Amafili of the Catholic Secretariat Nigeria (CSN) Block Leader, advised the youths not to allow the politicians to use them for their selfish interest.

According to the state chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Elekwa Chikezie, the churches have declared a one-day fasting and prayer on Friday (today) to seek God’s intervention in the exercise.

Similarly, former principal clerk of General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Uma A. Onwunta, appealed to the electorate “not to lose confidence in the electoral process and to go out and vote.”