Fear stricken residents of Anambra State locked themselves up at home for much of yesterday as the clock ticked toward the 8am take-off of the governorship election in the state today.
The situation left the streets deserted,the markets empty and the banks shut.
Some residents even chose to travel out of the state,unsure of what might happen during the election.
And that was despite the assurances from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that it had withdrawn the one week sit-at-home order it handed down to coincide with the election.
The Police,buoyed by the deployment of 34000 security personnel for the polls,told voters yesterday that they had nothing to worry about as they troop to the polling stations today, even as fresh controversy erupted over the unexpected re-deployment of a Deputy Inspector General of Police, and an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) , sent purposely to supervise security for the election by the police hierarchy.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo also yesterday made a last minute appeal to voters in the state to come out and exercise their right today.
The self-imposed sit-at-home by residents appeared to have been partly fuelled by the two days of work free declared by the state government for the people to prepare for the election.
Many of the residents had spent the last few days to shore up their food reserves at home.
Some residents said they found the large presence of security personnel and deployment of arms and ammunition in the state ahead of the election intimidating.
Some were seen at motor parks boarding vehicles to Enugu, Delta, Edo and Abia, among other States
One of such residents who gave her name as Chidera told The Nation that she was on her way to nearby Asaba, Delta State until after the election
Another resident, Maurice, left for Enugu on Thursday saying he was not comfortable staying in Awka during the period of the election.
A resident who chose not to be named said: “ nobody wants to lose his or her life. The fear IPOB has created in Igbo land will take some time to be forgotten
“Again, it might be a ploy to lure the people out to slaughter them. Personally, I don’t trust them and the way they operate. The security people who are telling people to come out, can they be trusted?
“We are in a critical condition not only in Anambra, but in the entire Igbo land. Me and my household, we will not go anywhere ”
But Information and Public Enlightenment Commissioner C Don Adinuba said it was not true that residents were fleeing the state.
He said those seen traveling were people from far places like Ayamelum in the state who wanted to go home to cast their votes where they registered.
Adinuba said;”you know the governor declared a two day work free day in the State which are Thursday and Friday. The workers who live in urban centres use the opportunity to travel on time and again, you know it’s still raining
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“No one is leaving Anambra State because of insecurity, those you saw are people from far areas in the State like Ayamelum, who want to go and vote.
“If you say they are relocating, what State in Nigeria is safer than Anambra State? People should grow beyond such propaganda.”
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Zaki Ahmed, told The Nation that heavy deployment of security agencies was not to scare residents
Rather, he said they were here to secure life and property. He said the police men would work with other sister agencies, in making sure that the governorship election was free and fair.
Police give fresh assurance on security of life,property
The police command in the state said yesterday that security agents were fully prepared to ensure a peaceful process of election today.
Police Commissioner Echeng Echeng, in an update told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka that he was impressed with the level of security across the state ahead of the poll.
His words:“ yesterday, we commenced aerial surveillance of the entire state and we are covering the entire state.
“The aerial surveillance is to feed those on ground with information to enable them tackle any security concern anywhere across the state.”
Echeng acknowledged complaints by the residents about the heavy presence of security men across the state but said they should “feel free at the sight of security men in their areas, because they are there to provide security and not to intimidate any lawful person.”
He added:“We have equally told our personnel to be civil to the people, but for anyone coming out to make trouble, let them deal decisively with such trouble makers.”
Controversy trails redeployment of DIG, AIG
Deputy Inspector General of Police Joseph Egbunike and an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) earlier sent to the state for the election were unexpectedly redeployed yesterday sparking speculations that they may have resigned.
The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer Nkeiruka Nwode dismissed the speculations as unfounded.
She said only DIG Egbunike was redeployed for another equally important assignment.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room on the governorship election expressed concern over incessant deployment of Police commissioner in the state.
The group was reacting to yesterday’s unannounced removal of Deputy Inspector General, Joseph Egbunike as head of the special police team providing security to the state.
Addressing reporters in Awka, Convener, Ene Obi said the state has had six Commissioners of Police in six months for no just reason.
•Ongoing distribution of sensitive materials for the governorship election in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State
“This state has been a bit notorious in terms of Police deployment. I remember we were on ground a month ago when we had a meeting with the security agencies,” she said. We just finished speaking with the CP who had been around for less than two months and around 8.30pm, he was removed before the close of meeting. There have been six CPs in Anambra state in six months. What is going on,it is only the AIG and IGP that can tell us why they’re deploying and redeploying in this last minute.
“This same DIG that addressed us yesterday is ironically from this state, we don’t really know what is going on.”
Ohanaeze to electorate: Please come out and vote
President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor yesterday pleaded with residents of Anambra State to come out and exercise their franchise in today’s election.
Obiozor in a statement also urged the residents not to be intimidated by the presence of the security operatives sent to the state, saying that their presence was to assist them have a hitch-free election.
“The presence of security operatives in thousands should not be a source of fear and trepidation rather a confidence building dynamic by the federal government to guarantee adequate security of lives and property in the State,” he said.
But he asked the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police and all the Service Chiefs whose men are involved in the Anambra election to ensure that the security operatives observe strictly the best global standard of rules of engagement with the good people of Anambra State.
He said:”The federal security operatives should synergize with the traditional rulers, town union presidents and local community vigilante for effective coordination of the voting process”.
Obiozor hailed IPOB for backing down on its one week sit-at-home order and prayed that the best candidate should win the election.
Parties woo voters with gifts in last minute rush for support
Some of the political parties were locked in a last minute battle yesterday to woo voters to their side with various gifts.
Reports from across the state said items shared to prospective voters included rice, tomatoes, wrappers, T-shirts, fridges, television sets and generating sets
One of the leading parties, The Nation learnt yesterday, gave out half bag of rice to each voter after presenting their voters cards
Another party handed out N1,000 cash and a bottle of malt while a top female politician in the distributed wrappers, T -shirts and other gifts .
TMG calls for credible election in Anambra
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), wants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exhibit neutrality in the election.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday, Chairman of the group, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, asked voters in the state to turn out en masse to exercise their constitutional responsibility by voting for candidates of their choice.
Rafsanjani also said it was the duty of the political parties, the electorate and civil society groups to ensure a hitch-free and credible election in the state, saying: “as stakeholders, we should live up to the principles of impartiality, neutrality and statesmanship during the election.
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“The security agencies, INEC, civil societies, traditional rulers and electorate are all urged to support a peaceful process. The TMG will closely monitor the electoral process and report any suspected case of violence to relevant stakeholders.”
In rescinding its one week sit-at-home order,IPOB said it was on the strength of the intervention of Igbo leaders.
Spokesman of the group Emma Powerful said: “Following the genuine intervention of our elders, esteemed traditional institutions /rulers and religious leaders, and after due consideration of the positive impacts of their engagement, and sequel to the fact that our elders have spoken in our terms, the leadership of IPOB ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hereby and immediately CALL OFF THE ONE WEEK SIT AT HOME earlier declared to commence tomorrow, November 5 to November 10, 2021.
“We have equally considered several appeals by our mothers who earn their living based on their daily economic activities which will obviously be affected if Biafra land is locked down for one whole week. It’s never our intention to add to the pains of our people, hence our decision to suspend the sit-at-home.
“IPOB leadership is only interested in our referendum and peaceful agitation for self- determination, and cannot by under any guise be seen to be interfering with any electoral process.
“The people of Anambra State should go out en masse and peacefully exercise their franchise come 6th November 2021 and accordingly, choose a leader of their choice and should not be intimidated by anybody, group of persons or security agents.”
Anambra govt alleges rigging in 10 LGs ahead of polls
The Anambra State government last night alleged that intelligence at its disposal showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had “ written results of 10 Local Government Areas,” even before the first ballot was cast.
It named the affected lgs as Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Aguata, Orumba South, Orumba North, Idemili North, Idemili South, Ogbaru, Anambra East and Anambra West all of which have high numbers of registered voters. Information and Public Enlightenment Commissioner C.Don Adinuba who signed the statement said: “a former Senate President from the Southeast, a former State Deputy Governor the Southwest and a sitting State Governor from the Southeast are deeply involved in the fraud to toy.”
“The barefaced brigandage just cannot stand,” he vowed.
But in a swift reaction, the Director, media and Publicity of Senator Andy Uba campaign organization, Hon Victor Ogene, said the allegation from APGA had exposed their its (APGA’s) plan in the election
He said because APGA members were afraid of their shadows, they had resorted to raising false alarm to deceive the public, adding that the prayer of APC had started manifesting
“They know they have failed and disappointed Ndi Anambra and they have equally seen the handwriting on the wall. They should come out openly and apologize to the people for their failure in 16 years in Anambra, ” the APC said.
