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Violence threatens Anambra governorship election

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A pall of uncertainty hangs over next month’s governorship election in Anambra State. The question on the lips of many stakeholders is whether the poll scheduled for November 6 would hold or not. Southeast Bureau Chief NWANOSIKE ONU reports that the 18 political parties fielding candidates  are having a hectic time campaigning for the contest

In about two weeks, the governorship election in Anambra State is scheduled to take place. But, the insecurity in the Southeast, particularly Anambra and Imo states, casts a shadow of doubt as to whether the election would hold or not. The  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed fears over the possibility of the election being held.

Eighteen political parties are fielding candidates to replace Governor Willie Obiano, whose tenure would elapse on March 17 next year. Some of the major candidates are Prof Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Dr Godwin Maduka of the Accord Party.

Others are Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Obiora Okonkwo of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Ben Etiaba of Action Alliance (AA) among others.

Preparations for the election are being hampered by the security situation. The electoral umpire had since September 5 concluded the Continuous Voter Registration exercise in the 326 wards that make up the state. But, most of the political parties have not been able to kick-start their campaigns because of the fear of violence hovering over the state.

The only party that has been to officially flag off its campaign is the ruling APGA, which did so successfully at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital. The other two major parties, the PDP and the APC have had to put off their plans because of threats from “unknown gunmen”.

The security situation has worsened in the last one month with no less than 30 persons being killed, with buildings and vehicles set ablaze. The sit-at-home mode of protests adopted by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) every Monday throughout the Southeast has compounded matters for residents of Anambra and other states in the Southeast.

Since it was introduced on September 9, fear has enveloped the public. Though the group said it had called off the order, the fear of being attacked by hoodlums has compelled markets, shops and even banks to remain shut every Monday.

The situation has continued to raise questions about whether the November 6 date for the election is still sacrosanct or it will be shifted. INEC’s Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye said the election must be held on the stipulated date.

Okoye said in a statement that the commission took into consideration a wide range of things before fixing the election on that date.

He said the commission had equally held an emergency consultative meeting with the leadership of all the registered political parties on October 8 which took place in Abuja, to discuss the matter.

This, the commissioner assured the people of Anambra State of its resolve to secure the processes for the conduct of the election and ensure that their right to vote in a safe and secure environment was guaranteed.

The killings and other violent activities in the state have kept everyone on their toes, including the government. Governor Obiano and security operatives have met several times, to see how to secure the lives and property of the citizens. But, the hoodlums are still unrelenting.

The condition of things forced the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubarkar Malami (SAN) to issue a threat that the Federal Government may declare a state of emergency if the situation becomes irredeemable.

But his statement caused uproar across the country and President Muhammad Buhari has dissociated his administration from the pronouncement, according to Obiano.

Traditional rulers in the state, led by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, and Anambra lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Uche Okafor, had called on Malami to resign or be sacked by the president.

Undeterred by the crisis generated by its threat to thwart the election, the separatist group, the IPOB, had issued another warning that it would order another sit-at-home for one month, if the Federal Government fails to release its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The pro-Biafra leader who had been in detention will appear in court tomorrow (October 21). It was to draw attention to his plight that the separatist group declared a sit-at-home for Ndigbo across the globe in September.

The fear already created in Igboland has stopped political parties and their candidates from campaigning. It has also stopped them from using branded party vehicles for their campaigns. The APC, the PDP and the APGA are only campaigning in rural areas, while the other parties have resorted to door-to-door campaigns.

Those driving Sport Utility vehicles (SUVs) and the Toyota Sienna brand are also at risk of being attacked by so-called unknown gunmen. The situation has made the residents ask whether the attacks, killings and violence being unleashed are politically motivated.

Governor Obiano and members of his ruling party believe the atmosphere of fear and violence hanging over the state is one of the strategies by the APC to rig the election. But a human rights activist and a member of the APGA, Comrade Obi Ochije does not see it that way. He told The Nation that no one knows the plan of those behind the violence. He called for caution, saying it is a perilous time in Anambra State.

The killings and other violent activities have heightened tension in Anambra State, especially, after the gruesome murder of Dr Chike Akunyili at Nkpor in Onitsha a couple of weeks ago.

The assassinated medical doctor was the husband of the late Minister of Information, Prof Dora Akunyili. She was also the former Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

There are other killings directed against law enforcement agencies by unidentified gunmen from Awka to Nnewi, to Onitsha, to Ihiala and other communities in recent times.

Are the killings politically motivated? Obiano said those behind the killings are from neighbouring states. But, other Southeast governors led by Ebonyi State’s Dave Umahi have debunked such allegations. Meanwhile, the IPOB says Obiano’s revelation has vindicated them.

The Anambra State governor had indicated while reacting to speculations as to why he avoided attending stakeholders’ security meetings in the zone that he did so because he would not want to stay in a meeting with those orchestrating mayhem in his state.

The governor said without equivocations that he deliberately stayed away from the meetings because he did not consider it proper to sit at a table and discuss security with those who are sponsoring the insecurity and killings in his state. IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said: “Obiano did not mince words when he said that the killings in Anambra were politically motivated. For the umpteenth time, let’s restate that we have no hands in the senseless killings of innocent citizens in Biafraland, especially Imo and Anambra states.

“Politicians and traitors bent on implicating the IPOB to impress their Fulani slave masters are the ones masterminding this genocide in collaboration with the wicked Nigerian security agents.”

As it stands, nobody knows what to believe, as the IPOB has threatened to impose another sit-at-home this October, if its leader is not released.

But one thing is sure; the security situation in the state is not likely to improve in the coming days. Nevertheless, INEC has insisted that the November election must be held. At the end of the day, it would discourage people from coming out to vote on election day.

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