Young Progressives Party boycotts Anambra LG poll amid violence claims

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) announced its boycott of the ongoing Anambra State local government elections, citing pervasive violence and electoral irregularities. The party's decision came amid reports of alleged gunshots in Otuocha, the headquarters of the Anambra East Local Government Area, a region where the YPP was the sole opposition party fielding candidates.

Anambra East LGA was the only one among the state's 21 LGAs where an electoral contest was scheduled, as the YPP had nominated candidates for both chairmanship and councillorship positions. In contrast, candidates from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were unopposed in the other 20 LGAs. The YPP's Local Government Collation Agent for Anambra East, Charles Ifediora, informed journalists that his party members were withdrawing due to the tense situation.

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We are boycotting the election over widespread irregularities and violence against our party agents, members and voters.

Ifediora accused the ruling APGA and the state government of orchestrating violence to intimidate opposition members and voters. He stated that YPP agents and supporters were unable to carry out their duties after assembling at designated locations. The alleged gunshots near the LGA Secretariat, occurring just as electoral materials were to be distributed, further prevented YPP members from participating.

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None of our party’s agents was allowed to carry out their duties. There were gunshots around the LGA Secretariat. The gun incident prevented our agents and supporters from participating in the election.

"We are boycotting the election over widespread irregularities and violence against our party agents, members and voters," Ifediora declared. He added that "None of our party’s agents was allowed to carry out their duties. There were gunshots around the LGA Secretariat. The gun incident prevented our agents and supporters from participating in the election." The YPP had fielded candidates for all 15 councillorship positions across 241 polling units in the local government.

The party also alleged that security operatives from local vigilante outfits had been mobilized by the state government to disrupt the participation of the YPP, the only opposition party contesting in the election. An eyewitness corroborated the reports of shootings near the LGA Secretariat, though major casualties were not reported.

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Yes, there were shootings near the LGA Secretariat in the early hours of today, but before we arrived at the Sec