In a massive deployment of senior police officers for an election, the Inspector-General of Police has announced the deployment of two Deputy Inspectors-General, five Assistant Inspectors-General of Police 14 Commissioners of Police, 31 Deputy Commissioners of Police and 48 Assistant Commissioners of Police to beef up security for the forthcoming November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.
The movement of the whopping number of top Police brass comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra flatly denied reports that its adhoc staff and drivers were downing tools for fear of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), which has allegedly unleashed violence in the South-East zone and threatened to shut down Anambra State, if its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was not released by November 4, two days to the Anambra election.
Dr Nwachukwu Orji, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State
said there was no truth in the reports that INEC staff were chickening out of the Anambra election.
“INEC is still in the process of recruiting the adhoc workers, in fact we just finished the last training before this false report.
“As the head of the commission in Anambra, I am telling you authoritatively that we have more than enough manpower for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra”, he said.
The INEC official explained that none of the ad hoc workers being recruited had been given engagement letters.
“If we have not issued letters to them, how then can any of them resign?” Orji asked, adding that it was unfair for the mass media to be aiding publications capable of causing more tension in the polity.
He adds in comments to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), “Taking INEC jobs during elections has been one means for people who do not have permanent jobs to earn little money.
‘’Publishing negative report that will scare them is so bad.”
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Commissioner Frank Mba, announced that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered a major overhauling of the security landscape in Anambra State ahead of the 6th November, 2021 Gubernatorial Elections in the State.
The statementadds: “The overhauling includes the deployment of selected seasoned Strategic Commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above to Anambra State for effective supervision of security personnel and operations in the Elections. The IGP noted that Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Joseph Egbunike has been deployed to Anambra State as the Coordinator of the security component for the Elections.
“DIG Egbunike is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful environment devoid of violence and conducive enough to guarantee that law abiding citizens freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation. DIG Egbunike will be assisted by the DIG in-charge of Operations, Acting DIG Zaki Ahmed. Other Strategic Commanders deployed to Anambra State include five (5) Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), fourteen (14) Commissioners of Police (CPs), thirty-one (31) Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and forty-eight (48) Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs). The Senior Officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three (3) Senatorial Districts, twenty-one (21) Local Government Areas and the 5720 polling units in Anambra State.
“The IGP reassures the nation that the Force is adequately prepared for the Gubernatorial Elections in Anambra State come November 6th, 2021. He reiterates that the Force will do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC personnel and equipment, accredited observers and other key players in Anambra State.
“The IGP calls on citizens in Anambra State to come out en masse and exercise their franchise as adequate security has been emplaced to protect them before, during and after the elections.”