Kanu: IPOB leader: asked for boycott of Anambra election

The South East/South South Network (SESSNet) has called on people of Anambra state not to obey the call to boycott the November 2017 governorship election in the state by any person or group.

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has been quoted as saying his group will not allow Igbos to vote in the Anambra State governorship election slated for November this year except the Federal Government agree to hold a referendum on the demand of his group for independent state of Biafra.

Some groups are also reportedly presently campaigning for the election boycott if the Federal Government of Nigeria fails to call a referendum for Biafra Republic.

But SESSNet in a statement issued in Abuja described the threat to boycott the election as childish and defeatist, as, according to the group, it would only result in further marginalisation of the people of South-East and South-South.

The group noted that refusal to participate in an election is to surrender in the game of struggle for leadership position, for which participants would have no one to blame but themselves.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to some groups threatening that Ndigbo will not participate in November 2017 governorship election if the quest for a Biafra Republic is not realised.

“Let it be on record that such groups have displayed a very high level of ignorance by threatening to boycott the November 2017 governorship election.

“We are happy to note that Ndi Anambra are ignoring the call for boycott as the INEC Chairman has stated that Anambra, along with Rivers and Lagos has recorded the highest number of new registrants in the current INEC voter registration exercise.

”Let it be reiterated here, that participation in the November 2017 governorship election is a free will decision and that doing so will give all participants the opportunity to elect leaders that reflect their wishes and aspirations.”