…as PDP, APGA, others retreat to grassroots
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s consultative security committee on Anambra governorship election, at the weekend announced that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure violent-free governorship election in Anambra State on November 18.
The chairman of the committee and Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Mr. Garba Umar, made this known after the committee’s meeting at the INEC headquarters in Awka.
The Police Commissioner, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Mr. Mike Okoli, assured the people of the state of adequate protection before, during and after the election. Umar, therefore, enjoined the people of the state to come out en-masse to participate in the election.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Dr .Nwachukwu Orji, represented by the Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Leo Nkedife, also explained that the commission was fully prepared for the election. He said all the non-sensitive materials had been received and distributed accordingly, while the distribution of permanent voter cards was on-going.
Orji pointed out that the commission had employed the needed ad-hoc staff for the exercise, adding that they were undergoing training. Orji also assured that the commission would receive sensitive materials on the eve of the
election.
In a related development, the key contending political parties have begun ward-to-ward visits, wooing the electorate with the Peoples Democratic Party visiting Awka Ward Six, Amikwo on Monday; just as All Progressives Grand Alliance and All Progressives Congress’ foot-soldiers have been going round the key wards in various communities, soliciting voters’
support.
And at a rally held the at the Isiagu Amikwo village square, in Ward Six, key PDP chieftains led by Chief Emma Nweke and Mr. Samuel Onwuaso, urged the people to support their candidate, Oseloka Obaze, as the party will deliver good governance. Nweke said it was high time PDP is returned to power to reposition the state towards meaningful development.
In the election, no fewer than 37 political parties and their candidates drawn from the PDP, APC, APGA, UPP and PPA are the leading, contending
parties.
