Appeals To Security Agencies To ensure Adequate Protection For Voters_ Anambra State Labour Party Caucus in the National Assembly has expressed grave reservations over reported moves by APGA party to deploy non-state security personnel and touts in the Saturday’s bye elections in the state.The two elections to be conducted are the Onitsha North 1 State Assembly seat and the Anambra South Senatorial District.The Caucus, comprising two Senators and six House of Representatives members, made the claims in a statement issued in Awka, the Anambra State capital.They called on the nation’s security chiefs to assist the Nigerian Police in providing adequate security to make for serene environment for the citizens to come out and vote in the elections without fear of molestation. The Caucus alleged that APGA party plans to use the State Government-controlled agents to scare away voters not aligned to party from the polling units.The Statement read:”Information at our disposal indicates that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has concluded plans to deploy men of the state’s security outfit, Udogachi, crude revenue enforcers, popular as ndi Aka odo and sundry non-state actors to take over the various voting points for the bye elections.”In an election where candidates of APGA are major contenders, it would be foolhardy to allow the Governor to take charge of security arrangements, especially as that would confer undue advantage on his party.”We, therefore, call on the nation’s top security architecture, especially the National Security Adviser, NSA, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding(GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, the Commanding Officer(CO), Field Artillery, Onitsha, the Director-General, Directorate of State Security, DSS and the Anambra State Director of the Service, as well as the Corp Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp(NSCDC), to fully deploy their personnel, so as to restore voter confidence in the election, as well as protect the lives of those involved in the process.”The whole essence of democratic governance revolves around freedom of choice, made possible by free and fair elections. Tomorrow’s Anambra bye-elections, like several in some other states of the federation, is a litmus test on our country’s readiness to ensure that the votes of Nigerians not only count, but are peacefully counted in order to arrive at an acceptable outcome.”In order to achieve this goal, therefore, the process cannot be skewed to favour any particular individual, be him a governor, or not.For the case of Onitsha North Constituency 1, We Are Shocked To The Bone Marrow The Level Of Desperation Of Gov Soludo And APGA Led State Government Against A Widow Whose Husband Was Kidnapped And Killed As Then Sitting Member Representing The Constituency.”We also make haste to point out that, as an off-season election, the attention of all participants, including candidates, political parties, local and foreign observers, and of course, the media, would be focused on the process. As a people, we must therefore strive to ensure that everyone plays by the rules,” the statement added.Signed:Senator Victor UmehSenator Tony Nwoye Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi Hon. Afam Ogene Hon. Emeka IduHon(Prof) Lilian Orogbu Hon. Peter AnekweHon. Uchenna Okonkwo
