Nigeria News
Biafra: IPOB Begins Referendum Bid, Prints 40 Million Ballot Papers
IPOB crowd (Pius Utomi Ekpei/Nigeria News/Getty Images)
IPOB Prints 40million Ballot Papers For Biafra
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)has announced resumption of plans to hold a referendum towards the ‘peaceful restoration’ of the defunct Republic of Biafra.
Naija News understands that the IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in a statement yesterday, said the first phase of the ‘three-stage referendum’ would take place in 2018 although he did not disclose the date for the planned activity. He also said the ballot papers would be distributed to all adults in every clan and village in ‘Biafraland’.
“We the Indigenous People of Biafra wish to bring to the attention of the world that plans are at advanced stages in preparation for the first in our three-stage referendum process towards the peaceful, non-violent restoration of the nation of Biafra.
“Our decision to hold the first of the three plebiscites later this year has vindicated IPOB’s resilience in sticking to the principle of non-violent agitation for Biafra in the face of government brutality and treachery from enemies within.
“Efforts geared towards this first referendum is gathering unstoppable momentum with dates for the exercise to be announced imminently.
The secessionist groups also aid it has printed 40 million ballot papers to be used in the first phase of the referendum by Biafrans to determine their readiness to opt out of Nigeria.
“Forty million ballot papers are being printed and readied for distribution to every clan and village in Biafraland for all adults over the age of 18 to express their preference,” the statement read partly.
Also in the statement, IPOB cited occasions where the Nigerian government had, in the past, conducted a referendum for some sections of the country.
“In other words, they voted to leave Nigeria for good. That was democracy in action, not war.
The secessionist group also noted that its mission “is to restore Biafra sovereignty via a democratic process and through the instrumentality of a three-stage referendum, the first of which will be held in the coming weeks.”
