By Ayo Yusuf
Growing insecurity in Kogi and Imo States less than two months before the gubernatorial election is “unacceptable, unnecessary and worrisome,” and may threaten the smooth conduct of the polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned.
The commission which raised the alarm at a one-day workshop organized for media executives in Owerri, Imo State, Wednesday, said the situation is capable of scaring away potential voters.
The INEC National Commissioner and member Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said this has also hampered his agency’s efforts to get ad-hoc staff to participate in the polls.
According to Haruna, “We have gone so far with our preparedness for the off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States.
“The Commission is truly worried about the growing level of insecurity and violence, in Kogi and Imo States. This is unacceptable, unnecessary and most worrisome.
“Campaigns in Kogi State, have been violent and this is most unfortunate. Our political gladiators and indeed, all citizens, must work towards ensuring free, fair and credible elections.
“It stands to reason that if this situation is allowed to continue, there is the likelihood that people will be afraid to come out to vote, on the election day.
“Already, INEC is having a shortfall in the number of ad-hoc staff needed to superintend over the forthcoming elections.”
Addressing what he called “electoral operations activities”, Mallam Haruna said: “All non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the three states, in required quantities and good quality.
“The production of sensitive materials has been completed and ready for delivery to the three states.”
The INEC National Commissioner further revealed that efforts are been made to improve and ease access for persons living with disabilities and other marginalized groups, to participate in these elections.
His words: “The Commission has provided braille ballot papers for visually impaired voters, made available magnifying glasses for people with albinism and introduced enlarged posters, for voters with hearing impairment.
“We have gone further to integrate into the voting procedure, a process that accords priority voting for persons living with disabilities, vulnerable people like the elderly, pregnant and nursing mothers.”
The electoral umpire therefore appealed to politicians, their political parties and electorates to conduct themselves in a manner that will allow for peace to prevail during and after the election in order to enable voters to exercise their franchise.
Violence Stalls Imo Campaigns
TheNewDiplomat reports that barely two months before the November 11 off-season governorship election in Imo State, renewed violence and killings have not only disrupted governance and displaced residents, they are also stalling political campaigns and the exercise of democratic rights.
On Tuesday September 19, 2023, the state was shocked by an ugly incident in the sleepy Umualumaku community, Ehime Mbano Council, as gunmen laid siege on security operatives comprising soldiers, police, and Civil Defence Corps.
Apparently, none of the members of the Joint Task Force, who were in two Hilux vans survived the attack, as they were set ablaze in the patrol vehicles by their attackers.
When the attackers left, security officials suspected to be soldiers invaded the community the next day and set on fire several houses and businesses in what looked like a reprisal attack, a development that made many to flee the community and live as refugees in other parts of the state.
However, while the soldiers were busy demolishing shops, houses and displacing the residents of Umualumaku, members of the Biafran Revolution Army, which claimed responsibility for the attack were celebrating their successful onslaught against security operatives, warning soldiers to leave the “innocent people of Umualumaku alone.”
The group, in a video, which was recorded in Igbo language , vowed to undertake more attacks, and ensure no election is held in Imo State on November 11 or any other part of “Biafra land.”
They warned the rest of the governors in the Southeast region to withdraw “Nigerian security officials mounting security check points on Biafra land.
“We don’t want to see them. They don’t belong here. They are part of the problem of the Biafra people. We are not joking about our mission”, they said.
It was not clear what prompted the brutal attack on the security officials on joint patrol at Umualumaku but on September 2, the self proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government in exile, Simon Ekpa, announced the commencement of what he described as “delegitimisation of the Nigerian government within Biafra Territory.”
He had ordered the continuation of the Monday sit-at-home, asked for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before September 15 and the dismantling of all roadblocks in the Southeast region.
He stated further that failure to adhere to the request would result in another three weeks civil disobedience with a curfew, beginning from September 18 as normal Monday sit-at-home and six hours curfew from September 19 to 22 for the first week, second week and third week subsequently until October 6.
He added that during the period “every Nigeria government Secretariat in Biafra territory must be shut down in all states.”
Those who felt that it was merely an empty threat were forced to obey after the successful attack by the group on the security officials in Umualumaku.
National Vice Chairman (Southeast), Labour Party, Chief Innocent Okeke has lamented the insecurity in the state and stated that it was imperative that the native inhabitants who have been forced to flee the state for the past four years be allowed to return.
Chief Okeke who stated that the purpose of governance becomes futile if the lives of both the governed and the security agencies are not ensured as the case in Imo State, regretted that the state had descended into a state of lawlessness and total anarchy where individuals are uncertain about their safety.
On Saturday, September 24, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo had expressed worry with the killings and bloodbath in the state.
President General of the organisation, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, lamented the amount of blood being wasted daily stressing that he would dedicate the greater part of this year to addressing “infighting and disagreement among the political class in Imo to engender development.”
Incumbent Governor, Hope Uzodimma of the APC; his opponents, Athan Achonu of the LP; Sam Anyanwu of the PDP, among others, have all decried the rising insecurity in the state, even as they have continued to appeal to those behind it to have a rethink.
Kogi Governor Gives Assurances
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has reiterated the determination of his administration to ensure a violence free process in the oncoming November 11 gubernatorial election in the state.
The Governor, who was speaking at the closing ceremony of the third edition of Governor Yahaya Bello Annual Seminar for Journalists in Abuja recently noted that people have been apprehensive about possible outbreak of crisis during the election, and assured the that those planning to cause violence would be contained before the election day.
According to him, those expecting violence would be disappointed because Kogi governorship election would be violence free.
He said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not in any crisis as some people are insinuating.
According to him, “Really, one of us is in the Court, but that does not mean that there is a crisis. Our party is at peace and formidable. Anyway, we know how to resolve our crisis. I won’t comment on a matter that is in the court. Let’s wait for the pronouncement of the court.
“But, as for violence, it won’t happen. Our party is prepared and the people have chosen Usman Ododo as their choice during the primary, which was keenly contested. All the contestants were qualified, but the best was chosen. We are prepared. We have transcended the era of tribalism. We are talking about who will deliver the dividends of democracy.
“Those preaching violence are those who don’t have anything on ground to show. For our party, we have many achievements to show the people. I believe that my achievements in the area of security; education, health, infrastructural development, capital development and others are enough to win the election for my successor.
“We are not really bothered because our work will speak for us. By the special grace of God, the next Governor that will take over after me is Ododo. We don’t have any fear of failure.”
However, our reporter noted that weeks to the Kogi State gubernatorial election, the recurring problem of politically motivated violence, and attacks on perceived opponents have taken frightening dimensions ahead of the poll.
The off-cycle governorship election slated for November 11, 2023 is expected to be keenly contested among the major parties, since the incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello would not be contesting, because he is serving out his constitutionally allowed two terms of eight years in office.
However, the campaign environment has generally been characterised by inciting and fierce rhetoric, threats of violence and actual incidents of violence among key political actors.
One of such occurred recently, when an attack was unleashed on the SDP gubernatorial candidate, Muritala Ajaka, whose motorcade was attacked by gunmen.
According to reports, suspected thugs in the wee hours invaded the SDP campaign office located along Paparanda Kpata Market and destroyed billboards showing the picture of President Bola Tinubu alongside the governorship candidate of SDP in the state, Yakubu Ajaka.
A similar attack was reported on Governor Yahaya Bello’s convoy, allegedly, by the supporters of SDP, where some aides of the governor were said to have been injured.
A few days later, a radio station, Radio Kogi Ochaja, was looted and destroyed by gun-wielding hoodlums and others armed with dangerous weapons, after beating up the staff and security guards on duty.
In the last two weeks, the camps of the Governor and the SDP candidate have been engaged in a war of words that has continued to heat up the state political atmosphere.
Speaking on the convoy attack, Governor Bello had warned, “Let it be the first and last time antelope will cross the lion’s way. Next time, there will be no warning”.
The governor also responded to comments by the governorship candidate of the SDP, Yakubu-Ajaka, on security and political matters in the state.
According to Governor Bello, “We wouldn’t have bothered to respond to the candidate of the SDP who is dipping himself in the messy mud and having an ignominious macabre dance on the sensibilities of the people of Kogi and Nigerians as a whole.
“It is important to tell Nigerians and the world that Yakubu- Ajaka, the said SDP governorship candidate, is on an agenda of whipping sentiments,
“He is spreading falsehood with reckless abandon so as to put on himself, a garment of importance and create unnecessary air around himself as a contender that he is not”.
