IN an effort to protect the integrity of the electoral process and forestalling acts that may constitute threats to the safety and security of voters, as well as electoral officials and materials, the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji M. D. Abubakar, has ordered massive deployment of personnel and logistics of the Force in Anambra State for the gubernatorial election holding on Saturday.
The police boss also directed the redeployment of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG ‘B’ Department), Philemon I. Leha, to Awka, for effective coordination of all security operations before, during and after the election.
In a statement signed by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, the IGP directed the deployment of all striking units of the Force, including personnel of the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), the Bomb Disposal Unit and the Police Air-Wing, to strategic places.
Accordimg to him, aerial surveillance and patrols would be provided by the police air wing,
with the support of the Air Force, adding that all parts of the state linked to waterways would be effectively patrolled by the Force Marine department, ably supported by the Navy.
The police boss also ordered policemen involved in the election duty to ensure that they worked in line with the code of conduct and international best standards, while those attached to politicians and other personalities involved in the election were to ensure that they did not conduct themselves in a manner capable of undermining the electoral process.
He warned that officers found breaching their oath of office would be sbrought to book, while he urged aspirants and voters to peacefully conduct themselves within the confines and requirements of the law.
Meanwhile, the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Atahiru Jega and the police boss, on Wednesday, at a stakeholders’ meeting, asked everyone to be involved in the election to conduct themselves in a manner that would not cause a breach of the electoral process.
Jega, speaking at the meeting, assured stakeholders that the commission would conduct a free and fair governorship election in the state, just as he also noted that conducting election was not an easy task anywhere in the world.
He said the commission had noted some loopholes in the state and had taken time to understudy them and also make amends, so as to ensure a credible election was conducted in the state.
The INEC boss said all those who were involved in multiple registrations in the state had been identified and charged to court.
“They have been charged to court already and the commission will continue to monitor the progress of the matter. They risk being fined or jailed for the offences. We call on all of you to cooperate with us, we are humans and we can make mistakes, but we will ensure that we give you the best election,” he added.
On his part, the IGP said no one was expected to take materials capable of constituting weapons to polling units, adding that anyone found breaching the order would be arrested.
The police boss also warned government officials against monitoring the election without the permission from INEC, while he cautioned candidates of political parties against moving about with security aides on the election day.
Candidates and chairmen of political parties in the meeting thanked the INEC chairman and the IGP for their resolve to get it right in Anambra, while they also pledged to abide by all the orders.
Jonathan leads PDP hierarchy to Onitsha
THE weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was cancelled on Wednesday, to enable President Goodluck Jonathan to lead the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Onitsha, Anambra State, to campaign for the party’s candidate, Tony Nwoye.
It was the second time in about a month that the council would not hold, because of the absence of the president.
There was no prior notice that the meeting would not hold, causing State House correspondents to wait throughout the day to find out whether or not it would still hold upon the return of the president from Awka.
APC decries 22-hour curfew
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated INEC over its 22-hour no-movement order (from 12 midnight on Friday to 10.00 p.m on Saturday) for the Anambra State governorship poll.
This was as the party wondered why such an extended curfew should be imposed because of an isolated election.
T
he party, in a statement issued in Lagos, on Wednesday, by its interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, recalled that even during general election, people were allowed to move around freely from 4.00 p.m on election day.
The party said election was a celebration of democracy, saying that imposing a 22-hour curfew for an election in only one state raised serious questions about the motive of the INEC.
Meanwhile security agencies were said to have uncovered a plot by some political parties to mobilise unauthorised persons into Anambra on Saturday.
“Some governors from a particular region have been mandated to assist financially with a minimum of N5 million for the movement to Anambra.
“Selected loyalists of one of the parties from each state would travel to Anambra, with a plan to stop over in Imo and then storm Awka to perfect their plans,” a report stated.
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