The demonstration scheduled for Saturday by the Electricity Consumers Rights Network, led by Osita Obi, against inconsistent power supply by EEDC/FirstPower has been postponed.
Speaking to reporters in Awka on Friday afternoon, Obi emphasized that the demonstration had only been postponed, not cancelled.
He clarified that this decision followed security apprehensions raised by law enforcement agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Anambra State Government, ahead of the governor’s inauguration on March 17.
As he stated, the agencies expressed concerns that the demonstration could be overtaken by troublemakers.
Obi revealed that he had received over 157 calls, some of which were threatening, urging him to cancel the demonstration.
He, however, refuted claims that he was bribed to postpone the demonstration, asserting that no one could bribe him.
“Having listened to these individuals, we opted to postpone the demonstration, not cancel it,” he remarked.
Joined by Mr. Tony Erike and Mr. Okpara Nonso, who are co-organizers of the demonstration, Obi stated he would not want to undertake any action that may not bode well for the state.
He encouraged electricity consumers to participate in a town hall meeting organized by FirstPower for March 18, where they would have the chance to inquire about the power situation in the state.
“We will keep engaging; we are not backing down,” Obi asserted.
He also lamented the quality of power supply in the state, characterizing it as “worthless,” noting that even the limited hours of electricity provided are frequently inconsistent and unreliable.
Electricity consumers in Anambra State, under the Electricity Consumers Rights Initiative and the Electricity Consumers Rights Network, previously organized the protest against FirstPower and EEDC regarding inadequate power supply and exorbitant estimated billing.
The demonstration was intended to spotlight the escalating frustration among residents over erratic electricity supply despite the implementation of elevated Band A tariffs.
The agitation arises amid the recent handover of electricity distribution operations in the state to FirstPower, a branch of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.
