Rep seeks adequate security for Idemili re-run in Anambra

A House member representing Idemili North and South,  Anambra, Obinna Chidoka,  has called for adequate security for the  re-run election by Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in his constituency on 9th March.

Idemili North and South Federal Constituency is the only constituency out of the 11 in Anambra state in  which election was declared inconclusive during the Febaury 23 election by INEC.

Chidoka, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), told newsmen on Sunday in Obosi that adequate security should be on ground to forestall a repeat of disruption.

“During the Febaury 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections, I cast my vote peacefully at about 10 am and left, at about 1pm, I received a distress call that armed thugs were at School of Health, Obosi beating up people destroying and carting away election materials.

“My people identified the leader of the group, invited security agencies who repelled the hoodlums and stopped them from causing further commotion.

“Around 6pm I got several calls that the same candidate that masterminded the attack  was going from polling unit to polling unit in Odume to snatch INEC materials and setting them on fire.

“The ugly incident also took place in Awada, where a clergy man sent us message to come and witness the election materials that were scattered there which we later brought to the collation centre.

“At Chuke Memorial Primary school collation centre, around 10 pm the gunmen stormed the venue and started shooting again, they destroyed result sheets and carted away materials making it difficult for collation of results in Obosi,” he said.

He said it was for this obvious incident of insecurity that  he was appealing to security agents especially the police to ensure adequate security during the re-run election which has been scheduled  by INEC for March 9.

Chidoka, however, expressed worry why  INEC  use  copies of  polling units results produced by Anambra Police  Commissioner to collate and declare the presidential and Anambra Central Senatorial elections, but failed to do so for his constituency.

He said the results of 26 polling units all in Obosi were missing, but wondered why some polling units in Abatete also in Idemili North where there was no violence were cancelled and scheduled for repeat.