A few days to the governorship election, scheduled to hold in Anambra State, some agents of candidates vying for the election have been said to be allegedly buying voter cards from the electorate.
Some agents of these candidates were said to be going from house to house in different communities, buying voter cards for between N2,000 and N5,000 from the people.
The agents were said to be scattered in some areas in Awka North and South local government areas, communities in Umunze, Nnewi, Ayamelum, Anambra East and West local government areas.
When contacted, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, assured the people of the preparedness of the commission to conduct transparent, free and credible election and pleaded with community leaders to educate their people on the use of voter cards.
He pleaded with youths on the need for them to be law abiding during and after the election, and not allow themselves to be used by any politician.
However, the traditional ruler of Awka, Eze-Uzu Gibson Nwosu, has advised the people in his domain to expose any person who secretly comes to them asking to buy their voter cards and, if possible, hand such persons over to the police.
According to him, “our young men and women should know that violence does not in any way promote good governance and the attainment of sustainable development, so please avoid thuggery.”
Youths earn N10,000 to deface opponents’ billboards
Supporters of political parties and gubernatorial candidates have engaged in the final wars of defacing of billboards and posters of their opponents ahead the election scheduled for Saturday.
One of the youths involved in the activities, who simply called himself “harmattan,” said he was paid N10,000 to remove five billboards and 20 posters of their opponents, which he had to bring to the party for counting before being paid.
The development had made the national chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, to ask his party members to stop mounting billboards and posters, adding that since their candidate was tested, credible and trusted, people would vote for him, with or without billboards.
He said that the tumultuous crowd that received the party in the state in their rallies was evidence that the entire state was for APGA.
Residents raise the alarm over security agents’ uniforms
Residents of a community in Anambra State have raised the alarm over a hideout where security agents’ uniforms were being secretly sewn.
The development came at a time preparations were on top gear by candidates, political parties, the national electoral body and others for the gubernatorial election on Saturday.
Sources say the fake uniforms were discovered two days ago by some residents of the town, including those of the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Confirming the development, state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the use of fake uniforms would not work.
He assured that the command would arrest persons with fake uniforms, disclosing that the number of policemen that would be deployed in the state would ensure that anyone identified as an impersonator was caught.
The spokesman, however, refused to disclose details of the hideout, adding that an investigation was underway.
In his reaction, Director General of the Ngige campaign organisation, George Moghalu, said the discovery was a confirmation that stakeholders had a genuine case, as the opposition was the first to raise the matter.
Moghalu, in a statement on Tuesday, said “we wish to draw public attention to an intelligence report which revealed many of these evil plots.
“You will recall that less than two weeks ago, it was reported in the media that the Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations, Mr Lar, raised the alarm that some candidates were sewing police, NYSC and NSCDC uniforms with the intent to unleash mayhem and disrupt the election.
“Senator Chris Ngige campaign organisation can further confirm that, indeed, it is true and, in fact, fake corps, policemen and NSCDC officials are being imported into Anambra State and camped in certain locations.”
Group drags Obiano, APGA, INEC to court
The Federal High Court I sitting in Awka, Anambra State, presided over by Justice I. B. Gafai, is expected to commence hearing today in an originating summons filed by an Onitsha-based human rights lawyer and president of Conference of Nigeria Registered Voters, Mr Jezie Ekejiuba, seeking to stop the governorship candidate of APGA, Willie Obiano, from contesting the November 16 governorship election in the state, over double registration.
Joined in the suit as co-defendants were APGA, Anambra REC, Professor Onukogu and INEC.
The plaintiff was asking the court to, ab initio, set aside, nullify and or void the election of the first defendant, who is the governorship candidate of the second defendant, APGA, if he contested and got elected on the November 16.
The plaintiff also sought the court declaration that in view of Section 31 (1)-(6) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended and the documentary evidence before the court, an information given by the first defendant as contained in the affidavit sworn to by him at the High Court or any document in respect of his voter card regularity, validity and registration particulars submitted by him for the November 16 was false.
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