Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for 2023 election has rescheduled his campaign rallies in the states of Anambra and Imo from Monday to Tuesday.
The party did not believe that “Monday is a feared period” for anyone to go out in several South-East regions, according to a source in the campaign council who spoke to the press.
The change complies with the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) sit-at-home edict, and the APC and Tinubu’s decision to suspend their presidential campaigns on Mondays (IPOB).
“If you drive out anyhow in the South-East on a Monday, it is at the owner’s risk. The South-East is not a place where you can just veer into and gather people in the name of politics.
“So, we have to make that necessary amendment in dates, not necessarily because of possible confrontation, but to make people willing to troop out for the rallies,” the source said.
Recall IPOB declared the sit-at-home order in August 2021 to protest and demand the release of its leader Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial on treason and terrorism charges by the Nigerian government.
Violators of the sit-at-home order have been victims of violence and killings by gunmen in southeast states on Mondays. Vehicular movements and commercial activities are on halt in compliance with IPOB’s order.
Tinubu’s campaign and zonal stakeholders’ meeting earlier scheduled to hold in Imo State on Monday, November 21, was shifted to Tuesday.
Anambra’s rally slated for Monday, January 30, was also moved to Tuesday according to the adjusted presidential campaign timetable, which was released by the campaign council on Friday night.