By Emma Ogbuehi
Despite assurances of safety by Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano to voters in the November 6 governorship election, there are palpable fears of the exercise not taking place or registering low voter-turnout. Obiano had some days ago, dismissed allusions of possible state of emergency being declared on the state in the face of increasing violence and politically motivated killings in the build-up to the election, attributed to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami.
As the governor was assuring of safety for the voters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was putting finishing touches on logistics and procedures for the poll. Investigations by our correspondent, however indicate thick ball of fears among the indigenes of the state that may force them stay indoors on the Election Day.
In a chat with TheNiche, a spokesman of one of the leading political parties who pleaded anonymity, narrated their experience in the run up to the election, describing them as “frightening”. According to him, “everyone is lying low, no campaign rallies”.
He added that in the last couple of days, some campaign managers of his principal were served letters threatening their lives, if they do not pull from any activities concerning the election.
Asked if the prevailing climate would not affect the poll, he sounded evasive but quickly added many residents of the state have quietly sneaked out of Anambra to remain alive. In his words, “These guys have disrupted life here oh! People no longer feel safe going around”.
How do the political parties go ahead with their campaigns in the face of the odds, our reporter asked. “We are working from remote locations; house to house, ward to ward. We try to remain as anonymous as possible”. He lamented that the normal fanfare associated with elections has drastically gone down in Anambra, adding, “Branded vehicles have been withdrawn from the roads”.
He fingered the so-called unknown gunmen as being behind the letters of threats to the campaign managers. He stressed that the Police and other security agencies have been trying their best in assuring the people to go out and vote during the election but feared that many may not take the risk of going out.
