Chidoka Wants Adequate Security For Anambra Re-run

Rep. Obinna Chidoka seeking re-election for Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency has called on security agents in Anambra State to ensure adequate security ahead of re-run election by INEC in his constituency.
It would be recalled that was the only Constituency out of the 11 constituencies in Anambra which result was declared inconclusive by INEC after February 23 elections.
Our correspondent gathered that violence, snatching of ballot boxes and sundry malpractices marred the exercise in 35 out of 65 polling units in the area which resulted to the cancellation.
Chidoka, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election told newsmen on Sunday in Obosi that adequate security should be on ground to forestall a repeat of the February 23 incident.
The lawmaker decried the harassment and injuries inflicted on innocent electorate and election officials especially corps members by gunmen allegedly backed by a candidate in the election.
“During the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections, I cast my vote peacefully at about 10 am and left. At about 1pm, I received a distress call that armed thugs were at the School of Health, Obosi beating up people, destroying and carting away election materials.
“My people identified the leader of the group, invited security agencies who repelled the hoodlums and stopped them from causing further commotion.
“Around 6pm I got several calls that the same candidate that masterminded the attack was going from polling unit to polling unit in Odume to snatch INEC materials and setting them on fire.
“The ugly incident also took place in Awada, where a clergyman sent us message to come and witness the election materials that were scattered there which we later brought to the collation centre.
“At Chuke Memorial Primary school collation centre, around 10pm the gunmen stormed the venue and started shooting again, they destroyed result sheets and carted away materials making it difficult for collation of results in Obosi,” he said.
He said it was for this obvious incident of insecurity that he was appealing to security agents to ensure adequate security during the re-run election scheduled for March 9 by INEC. Chidoka however, expressed concern that INEC was able to use the copies of polling units results produced by Anambra Police Commissioner to collate and declare the presidential and Anambra Central Senatorial elections, but failed to do so in his constituency.
He said the results of 26 polling units all in Obosi were missing, but wondered why some polling units in Abatete also in Idemili North where there was no violence were cancelled and scheduled for repeat.
Chidoka said the antics were aimed at denying him the mandate given to him by the people but insisted that the electorate in the area were willing and committed to back his re-election bid due to his performance.

Dennis Naku