The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra has urged security agencies to beef security at polling units and collation centres to prevent security breach experienced during Feb. 23 Presidential and National assembly elections
The party also called on the security agencies to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of election violence in Obosi, Idemili North Council during the last elections.
Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu, Chairman of PDP in Anambra made the call while briefing newsmen in Awka on Tuesday.
Nwobu said the party was reliably informed that a political party had recruited political thugs and lodged them in hotels ahead of the March 9 State House of Assembly elections in the state.
He expressed worries that no persons had been arrested as having been involved in the unfortunate disruption of elections and collation processes in Obosi and other parts of the state.
The PDP chairman called on the Nigerian police and other security agencies to put in place adequate security measures to forestall recurrence of election violence.
“I must say that INEC performed creditably well in the Feb.23 election, they did their best but for this coming election, I encourage them to publish the names and postings of collation officers.
“This will make them not to work into the night without security when hoodlums will attack them.
“It is unfortunate that up till now, nobody has been arrested in connection to the violence in Obosi, not even their sponsors to serve as deterrent to others.
“We are reliably informed that these desperate politicians have recruited a good number of thugs and lodged them in hotels for the purpose of executing the March 9 House of Assembly and Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency rerun elections.
“We call on the security agencies to beef security at all polling units and collation centres to prevent the security breach we had on Feb. 23.
“They should also allow party agents unfettered access to all polling units and collation centres,” he said.
Nwobu said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should guarantee a free and fair environment to enable Anambra electorate choose those who would represent them in the state House of Assembly.
He commended the electoral body in Anambra on their neutrality during the presidential and National Assembly Election in the state on Feb.23 and urged them to maintain the stance on March 9.
He urged INEC to distance itself from any overtures by anybody and maintain the status of an unbiased umpire it had attained and not plunge itself into disrepute by the lure to please vested interest in the election.
“It will be a great disservice for INEC which did well to now nosedive and start romancing with any political party or individual; so I urge the commission to distance itself from any of such act.
“They should conduct their affairs with utmost fairness and impartiality to all, and whoever colludes with anybody to influence the process is on his own and whatever repercussions will be entirely his.
“All we want is a fair playing ground,” he said.
Nwobu said state House of Assembly election was an opportunity for people to choose the right people to represent them in the lawmaking house and wondered why some people were going about it as though their lives depended on it.
He dismissed rumours that PDP was discussing alliance with any party or persons and warned those involved in such negotiations to desist or face the wrath of the party.
“PDP candidates in the 30 constituencies of Anambra are all in the race, we are not into any form of negotiation with anybody and those involved in such mercantilist politics should stop forthwith,” he said.
On the National Youths Service Corps position that corps members would not be posted to volatile areas like Idemili and Obosi, Nwobu said the scheme was not to blame for its decision.
“The corps members are exposed to great danger caused by desperate politicians and that is why we are calling for the arrest of these electoral law violators and their sponsors to serve as deterrent to others,” he said.(NAN)
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