The Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) says it has uncovered another plot to politically cut off the South East zone from the mainstream of political affairs in Nigeria by reducing the number of Igbo Senators from 15 to 13.

In a statement made available to Journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital yesterday and signed by the leader of MASSOB, Mr. Uche Madu, the group pointed out that the act of a calculated, deliberate and conscientious act of political abortion is in line with the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to sideline Ndigbo.

The group also called on the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the dates for the conduct of the senatorial re-run election in the zone and more so conduct the election before July 15th to fill up the vacant seats for South East zone as well as the release of all its comrades who are still being held behind bars.

The statement reads: “One year after 2015 general elections that produced complete number of senators from each of the geopolitical zones, two senatorial seats of Anambra central zone and Okigwe zone in Imo State remain vacant in the upper legislative chamber.

“The South East zone has the least number of senatorial representatives with only 15 while other zones have 18 senatorial representatives. But the North East zone has 21 senatorial representatives. This is another gross political manipulation against Ndigbo.

“Why is it that INEC has remained adamant and unshaken towards conducting elections into these remaining two Igbo senatorial seats? What happened to the money for constituency projects and infrastructural development of these two South East zones?

“Today out of cowardice, major Igbo leaders have kept mum even the people and electorates of this senatorial district are keeping quiet.

“MASSOB as a major stakeholder in Igbo affairs, projects and emancipation, we demand that INEC should release dates and conduct senatorial elections before 15th July, 2016 to fill in the vacancy of the two seats for the South East zone.

“MASSOB also insist on our earlier demands for the release of our detained comrades by the Nigeria government which includes Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Benjamin Onwuka, David Nwawuisi, Madubugwu, Innocent Orji, Sabastine Amadi and 21 others detained at Awka/Onitsha Prisons. Their continued detention will bring more devastating damage to the image of Nigeria.”

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