No Movement from Midnight to Election, Says Anambra CP

Anambra State Police Commissioner, Hosea Karma, has said that movement of persons and vehicles will be restricted from mid-night of  March 27 ahead of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Karma who announced this at a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the women Development Centre Awka explained  election procedures to the stakeholders.

The State commissioner of police, who represented security agencies at the forum said there is a new synergy between all the security agencies, and that there will be the availability of all security agencies in all the polling units in the state.

“In all the polling centers  in the state, there will be the presence of all security forces, and  if you have no business at the polling centres, then you better not come there.

“Though you have been told by the parties to vote, stay back and protect your votes, but we are saying that it is better for you to vote and go back to your house, but if you must stay to observe how voting will go, then that must be 300metres away from the polling centres.”

On their part, representatives of political parties in the state who took time to seek clarifications on grey areas, agreed to abide by the code of conduct, and also pledging to help ensure the transparency of the election by eschewing violence.

The leader of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in Anambra State, Chief Godwin Ezeemo who was also at the forum in an interview with journalists commended the INEC for the introduction of the smart card readers, despite that the country’s electoral laws does not support electronic voting. This according to him will go along way to help in ensuring the credibility of the election.

Ezeemo called on members of the political class, electorates, INEC officials of all cadre to work hard to ensure that the exercise ends in success. He said the credibility and transparency of the election will determine the level of development that will be witnessed in the country.

Also speaking at the occasion the the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Engr Ediwin Nwatarali revealed that the percentage collection of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) in Anambra State has got up to 91 percent.

Mr. Edwin Nwatarali who attended the form with all the INEC staff took time to explain whatever was necessary that the electorate should know.

Among other things, INEC  brought Card Readers and explained their functions during election and stated that by using card readers, the commission has not engaged in electronic voting  and that gave more credibility to the election to be conducted by the commission.

According to him, card readers will recognize PVCs  meant particular polling unit; authenticate finger prints and ensure that the voter is in the right polling unit.

He also showed the audience samples of the various ballot boxes to be used for the three elections slated for March 28.

On  the issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Nwatarali explained that a window was opened for those who came down from the North to the South to transfer their voting centres to the South and warned that  those who voluntarily moved from the North to the South cannot be regarded as IDPs

But in North all those who are staying in the camps have been provided for and there is no such arrangement in the South.

The State Governor Chief Willie Obiano who was represented at the occasion by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Tony Onyima thanked community leaders for heeding his call and mobilizing their people to collect their cards.

The chairman of the forum and traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu who urged politicians to see politics as a game of football which opponents can lose and encouraged them to take it in good faith if they lose.

The forum was attended by Senator Chris Ngige, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, Mrs. Monica Odegbo and heads of security agents in the state.