2023 elections: South East traditional rulers order residents to ignore IPOB’s sit-at-home

The traditional rulers of the South-East extraction have called on their people to ignore any sit-at-home order, encouraging them to go and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.

Report has it that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a threat against the conduct of elections in the region.

The traditional rulers made this appeal to the residents of the region in a communiqué produced following the first 2023 Executive Committee Meeting of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers (SECTR) which took place at the Old Eastern Nigeria House of Chiefs, Enugu.

The traditional rulers discussed the role of traditional organization in enabling peace and security, and most especially on the tolerance for free and fair elections.

“First, the Royal Fathers called on the people of the South-East to go out en masse to vote for their preferred candidates during the elections and to ignore any order for sit-at-home.

“Second, the Council appealed to the security agencies to create a conducive and safe environment for the General Elections; while calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act professionally and patriotically.

“Third, the killings and destruction of property in South Eastern Region and across the country are condemned in strong terms by the Council.

“Fourth, the Council called on all Traditional Rulers to take control of their various domains during the upcoming elections for peaceful, free and credible elections to take place,” it said.

Chairman, South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe signed the communiqué.

The communiqué was also signed by Eze Joseph Nwabeke, the Ezeamara of Eziama Ntigha.