Police To Hold ‘Show-Of-Force’ Ahead Of Anambra Election

In preparation for the 2021 Anambra State governorship election, there would be a show of force by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on Thursday, November 4. A repeat is slated for Friday, November 5, at 8 am. These displays are expected to happen in all the three senatorial districts of Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.

The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) are believed to be top threats as election the Anambra election 2021 approaches, hence this high-level preparation by the police for the Anambra poll. IPOB has been accused by Nigerian authorities of causing crisis in the Southeast region lately.

ABN TV recalls that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, earlier this month warned political actors and separatists who are planning to cause mayhem in the upcoming governorship elections in Anambra State to have a rethink or be prepared to face the consequences. He disclosed that the police has concluded arrangements to deploy 34,587, personnel to Anambra State to ensure a safe, secure, and credible electoral process ahead of the November 6, governorship elections in the state.

Now, FIJ references a 25-page document which states that the personnel would be drawn from 27 state police commands, which are: Anambra, Delta, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo, Imo, Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Kano, Kwara, Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba.

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Personnel from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command and visiting police officers from the IGP’s secretariat, force headquarters, etcetera, will also be in the state for the election.

According to the police operation order for Anambra election, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) across the state’s land borders such as Ndoni/Ogbaru in Rivers State, Asaba/Ogbaru in Delta State and others are to ensure the lockdown of the borders. Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) and military officers would be equally deployed to enforce restrictions of movement along the identified roads throughout the period of the election.

Incumbent Governor Willie Obiano is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term. Thus, the battle for who succeeds him is in on. Some of the prominent aspirants include Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).