ABUJA—A coalition of Igbo leaders from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has demanded the the deputy governorship slot in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Lagos State as a precondition to support the People’s Democratic Party, PDP..
The coalition also added its voice to demand for immediate removal of the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attairu Jega, over allocation of 30,000 new polling units across the country.
The Igbo leaders, canvassing support for President Jonathan’s re-election,should he decide to re-contest, also urged the federal government to protect the lives and properties of Igbo people throughout the federation, especially in the north, so as to guarantee electoral spread for President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election.
The coalition, under the auspices of ‘Goodluck Gaa Niru 2015’, stated this in a communique issued after it’s maiden national executive meeting in Abuja last weekend.
Leader of the group, Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, who led other members of the group to read the communique, observed that President Jonathan secured the 25 per cent votes spread across the nation due to the massive presence of Igbo outside the South East.
The group, however, appealed to the federal government to ensure security for all Igbos outside the South East in order to avoid intimidation of Igbos ahead of the 2015 elections.
“Mr. President should know that it was the Igbo votes that gave him more than 25 per cent votes outside the southeast zone.
“We suffered untold hardship leading to several mortalities, especially in the north. Ahead of 2015 election, we call on president Goodluck to ensure maximum security of Ndi’ Igbo outside Igbo land,” it said.
