Anambra: Police stop Buhari, Tinubu, other APC protesters from INEC offices NORMAL activities came to a halt at the National Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Thursday as members of the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Senator Bola Tinubu, General Muhammed Buhari and former FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufari among others stormed the office to protest the outcome of the Anambra State governorship election. The protesters who were also demanding the immediate overhauling of the commission ahead of the 2015 general elections also included the former Zamfara State governor, Senator Sani Yerima; the National Chairman of the defunct ANPP, Dr Ogbonaya Onu; Chief Segun Osoba; Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Senator George Akume, and a former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye among others. The protesters were, however, denied access to the premises of the Commission’s Headquarters by a combined team of security agencies numbering over 400 comprising soldiers, Department of State Security Service (DSS) officers, regular and anti-riot policemen as well as those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) while Armoured Personnel Carriers were also rolled out. It was, however, gathered that all the top officials of the Commission, including its Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega were said to have gone into hiding. The protest, which lasted for about one hour, saw the APC protesters marching out at 11.15 a.m. and rounding it off at 12.30 p.m., as all movements within and around the premises were halted. However, the shouts of “Jega is a thief” by the protesters rented the air while they also displayed posters and handbills with inscriptions, “overhaul INEC now; 2015, this INEC is not capable,” among others. Speaking in front of INEC office, Senator Ahmed Tinubu said the mission is to liberate the nation, adding that Nigerians need free, fair and credible election. He told the police and other security officers who barricaded the entrance of the commission’s office that their future lies in good governance and democracy devoid of insincerity. The APC had on Thursday, November 28th sent a protest letter to INEC with the request that the Anambra governorship election, which took place on the 16th of November should be cancelled outrightly. The protest letter signed by APC interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, demanded “an outright cancellation of the Anambra Election, having been marred by serious irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.” The letter reads in part: “INEC should discard the present fake multiple voters register and produce one authentic voter’s register that will not disenfranchise any voter and be published 30 days before any election can take place in Anambra State. “The suspension and prosecution of all officials of the commission who have ever been indicted for electoral perfidy to purge the commission of such compromised officials, the immediate redeployment and investigation of the current Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukogu. We, as a party, we demand honesty and transparency! If our requests above are not acceded, it will confirm that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is deliberately by either gross incompetence or more suspicious means) interfering in democracy. The letter further added that “We demand for the outright cancellation of the manipulated November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.” Police stop protest in Kogi Following the directive of the National Headquarters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) that all state chapters of the party across the country must embark on a peaceful protest against the conduct of the gubernatorial election in Anambra State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Kogi State chapter on Thursday could not protest beyond its state secretariat in Lokoja, the state capital The state police command stopped the procession at the state secretariat as protesters were about to set out. The policemen subsequently cordoned off the state headquarters of INEC giving no room for any protester to move near. Early in the morning, APC members, supporters and sympathizers had gathered at the party Secretariat with brooms and placards with different inscriptions ready for the onward march to the INEC office before the police stopped them The party members who were in hundreds sang first stanza of the National Anthem, called for total cancellation of Anambra State gubernatorial election, insisting there is nothing like supplementary election the electoral law. Placard carrying party loyalists carried inscriptions like “We call for cancellation of Anambra state governorship election; No Jaga jaga Election for 2015, We say no to election rigging.” Former state Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria and present chieftain of APC in the state, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo told newsmen that they obeyed the police directive in order to give peace a chance, but condemned the poll in Anambra State, believing that the electoral umpire was out to kill democracy in Nigeria. Oyo APC protests The All Progressives Congress (APC) Oyo State chapter on Thursday recommended a total restructuring of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in preparation for 2015 general election, over the supplementary governorship election scheduled to hold in Anambra State this weekend. This request was contained in a letter delivered to the state’s electoral body at its office on Parliament Road, Secretariat, Ibadan, by the state acting chairman, Mr Isiaka Alimi who led other party members in a peaceful protest. APC in a letter entitled “APC (Oyo State Chapter) condemns another supplementary election,” said INEC is incompetent to conduct the 2015 election, classifying it as a ‘big danger’. The letter, signed by the acting secretary APC, Oyo State, Honourable Mojeed Olaoya stated that “The decision by INEC to conduct another supplementary election slated for the 30th November, 2013 in Anambra State is unequivocally condemned by the entire members of APC(Oyo State Chapter). “We view that INEC’s incompetence to conduct a free and fair election in a state in Nigeria is not only embarrassing but portrays a “Big Danger for 2015. We therefore feel that INEC should be re-organize administratively in preparation for 2015 election and that the total election should be cancelled,” as it “call for a new gubernatorial election in Anambra State.” INEC commences distribution of materials in Anambra The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of materials for the supplementary governorship election in Anambra scheduled for November 30. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited INEC headquarters in Awka on Thursday, reports that many officials of the commission were seen collecting the materials. The materials collected include inks and ballot papers, while the result sheets were still being waited for. An official who spoke to NAN under the condition of anonymity said she was at the headquarters to collect the materials as was directed. She confirmed that she had collected ink and ballot papers, but that she was yet to collect the result sheets for the exercise. Mr Frank Egbo, INEC’s Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the distribution of materials in an interview with NAN. He added that the commission had been having several meetings to ensure that the exercise was hitch-free. IGP reassures adequate provision of SEC In view of the forthcoming supplementary election in some parts of Anambra State set for tomorrow, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar has reassured Nigerians of the readiness of the Force to ensure adequate provision of security in and around the state. The IGP gave the reassurance on Thursday, at the end of a strategic security meeting with members of the Force Management Team, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja He stated that the earlier security arrangements for the previous guber election are still in place, adding that the Force will continue to maintain its optimal presence in the State until the successful conclusion of the election. The IGP called on the personnel of the Force and other security agencies to rededicate themselves and be truly committed towards ensuring a seamless and hitch free conduct of the supplementary election. He charged the officers and men to remain steadfast, focused and neutral, even as they exhibit the highest level of professionalism in the course of discharging their duties both during and after the period of the elections in the state.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 00:19:21 +0000
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