• PPA urges security boost ahead election
THE Anambra State governorship election will hold on November 16, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said in its timetable released Tuesday.
This was contained in a statement from the Commission’s Public Relations Office in Awka dated July 8, 2013 and signed on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner by Mr. Frank Egbo, an assistant director.
And with the hope that things would go better as the state prepares for the election, state Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), M.N.C. Ameke, has frowned at what he called inflammatory utterances by some highly placed citizens, which tend to incense the present fragile security situation in the country.
According to the INEC statement, “activities for the election will commence on August 13, 2013, while the ban on campaign by political parties in public is hereby lifted with effect from August 18, 2013.”
The conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from same, will end on September 2, while submission of Forms CF001 and CF002 to INEC ends on September 17. Campaigns end on November 15.
And, in accordance with Section 179 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it pointed out that run-off election (if any) would hold within seven days of the announcement of the result of the election.
“Interested members of the public and political parties are advised to check for details on the Commission’s notice board in the state office, Awka, and all local council areas in the state,” it added.
Already, the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), through its Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, has fixed the council election for October 5, 2013, which is now exactly two weeks from the governorship election.
Ameke told journalists in Awka on Monday that the citizens could only have confidence to come out and elect persons of their choice if safety was guaranteed. Therefore, it was imperative for law enforcement agencies to be properly briefed on protecting lives and property during and after the elections.
Meanwhile, he urged those overheating the state’s polity, as well as ANSIEC chairman, to guard their utterances. According to him, “it is barbaric for any right-thinking person to think of burning down the state again after all we had gone through.”
He regretted that hoodlums had become bold and audacious in making another threat because known perpetrators of the first mayhem were still walking the streets free.
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