2023: We have no plans to disrupt elections in south-east, says IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it has no plan to disrupt the 2023 election in the south-east.

There have been reports that the group intends to disturb next year’s poll in the geopolitical zone.

The reports have been attributed to a splinter group within IPOB.

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Emma Powerful, the group’s spokesperson, said IPOB “is not interested and will never involve” itself in the upcoming election.

He accused the federal government of “covertly recruiting and positioning” to make the south-east unsafe and “blame IPOB for the election violence”.

Powerful added that IPOB is “indivisible” and any information not issued through the group’s appropriate channels should be ignored.

“IPOB is not interested and will never involve ourselves in any Nigeria preelection or postelection issues. Our job is to open the eyes of the blinds by the gospel of truth which our leader has delivered already,” the statement reads.

“Whoever, that is sponsoring any group or gang tagging them IPOB is on his/her own.

“To this effect, IPOB is neither contemplating nor will it encourage or sponsor anyone or group to disrupt the Nigeria selection process called election.

“IPOB has constantly made it public that we have no interest in and cannot legitimise what they call election in Nigeria.”