Governorship Election: Anambra now in 36-hr Lockdown

IN his efforts to prevent incidence of electoral fraud and violence and to ensure a smooth and orderly conduct of the Anambra State election scheduled to hold tomorrow, the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji M. D. Abubakar, has increased restriction of movement within the boundaries of Anambra State to 36 hours, from its initial 22 hours, taking effect from 6.00 p.m today till 6.00 a.m on Sunday.
The high command of the Force also directed that states nearby Anambra, including Delta, Enugu, Imo and Abia, would be heavily policed during and after the election.
In a statement signed by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, the Force said those on essential duties would not, however, be affected by the order.
This came as the Force warned all security details to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres.
It reiterated that only police personnel specifically assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.

According to the Force high command, the restriction order was informed by the exigencies of overriding security considerations, stressing that it was not ignorant of the citizens’ rights to freedom of movement, as stated in the constitution.
It insisted that this was a preemptive measure aimed at forestalling elaborate plans by faceless groups to undermine the electoral process, as gathered through intelligence reports.
The police authorities, however, urged citizens to see the order as necessary in the present circumstance, while intended travellers on the affected days were advised to take alternative routes to their destinations.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, exchanged words over the governorship election holding in Anambra State, tomorrow.
While APC expressed worries over the election, PDP said the opposition was afraid it would lose the election.
In separate statements in Abuja and Lagos, signed by their national publicity secretaries, Chief Olisa Metuh and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, respectively, PDP and APC traded words over the election.
APC,  in its statement, asked President Goodluck  Jonathan to live up to his promise of a free and fair election in Anambra tomorrow.
PDP, however, countered, affirming that the president had always supported free and fair elections, while he always congratulated winners, whether in PDP or other parties.
“Nothing on the ground so far points to the fact that Saturday’s election will be free, fair and transparent, despite the president’s promise,” the APC said, adding that “rightly or wrongly, institutions of state take a cue from the president’s body language.
“They know that security agencies that turned themselves to the armed wing of PDP were not sanctioned. In this context, therefore, the president’s promise of a free and fair election will not mean much to those bent on repeating same in Anambra.”
APC also said the fact that Willie Obiano of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) had continued to evade justice, despite the electoral offence committed by him, did not give much confidence that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could, indeed, be trusted to ensure a level-playing field for all the parties.
“President Jonathan should be careful in staking the credibility of his high office on these elections. His promise of free and fair elections in Ondo did not materialise, as the world knows, and the unprecedented electoral heist in Delta does not back up his administration’s claim that the country’s electoral architecture has improved under his watch,” the APC added.
However, PDP faulted APC’s fear over the intention of President Jonathan on the governorship poll, affirming that the party  “is proud of Jonathan’s stand on electoral transparency and credible polls at all levels across the country.”
According to the party, “the APC is now living in morbid fear, because the people of Anambra State and the South East in general have rejected it
on account of its tribal stance and hatred for the region, as demonstrated in its sectional and anti-people policies, including the recent deportation of Anambra State indigenes from Lagos.”
Describing APC as a party of propagandists, PDP wondered “why APC restricted itself to criticising elections only in states where it lost, such as Ondo and Delta, but sees nothing wrong in states where it won, such as Edo.”
The party said the president had remained resolute in his commitment to free and fair elections, as reflected in his mantra of one man, one vote, adding that “the drastic reduction in electoral disputes under President Jonathan is a clear testimony in this regard.”
It lashed out at APC for not imbibing the spirit of sportsmanship when it was defeated as demonstrated by PDP on many occasions, adding that President Jonathan had remained open and objective on election issues.
“It is on record that the president has always congratulated candidates who won in free and fair elections, irrespective of the parties they belong,” it added.

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