Voters in Anambra state,
southeast Nigeria, go the polls to elect a new governor this weekend, with
security tight after a call from a pro-Biafran group for people to boycott the
polls.
The result of Saturday’s election is unlikely to change anything politically at
national level but proceedings are being watched closely because of what
analysts have said are “unprecedented” measures to stop unrest.Nigeria’s federal police said it is sending 26,000 extra police officers, including counter-terrorism and bomb disposal specialists, sniffer and attack dogs.
Three surveillance helicopters will
monitor proceedings from the air, while there will be 10 gunboats on the river
Niger, plus 15 armoured personnel carriers and 303 patrol vehicles. Police said
the measures were “to ensure adequate security and safety of lives and
properties before, during and after the elections”.
“Police personnel deployed for
the election are under strict instructions to be polite and civil but firm in
the discharge of their duties and other responsibilities,” it added.
But the tactics are being seen as
heavy handed.
“This is an unprecedented
deployment. It’s an aberration. It’s like we are in a war situation. For God’s
sake, this is an election,” security consultant Don Okereke told AFP.
“It will be counter-productive as
there will be voter apathy, which will lead to low turnout of voters and the
election of unpopular candidates.”
– ‘Civil disobedience’ –
– ‘Civil disobedience’ –
Some 37 parties are fielding
candidates in Anambra to try to wrest power from governor Willie Obiano, of the
All Progressives Grand Alliance, who is seeking a second term.
The leading contenders are
Oseloka Obaze, of the main national opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
and Tony Nwoye of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
But Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is the most well-known name as the polls
prepare to open.
In September, long-running
tensions between his supporters and the military boiled over after soldiers
were sent in large numbers to the neighbouring state of Abia.
The military maintained the
deployment was part of a scheduled operation against violent crime but IPOB
claimed it was clearly aimed at cracking down on their activities.
Kanu, who is on bail and facing
treason charges, has not been seen since September 14. His family maintain he
is in military custody, which top brass deny.
IPOB has held repeated protests
calling for a separate state for the Igbo people who dominate southeast
Nigeria, reviving secessionist sentiment that led to a civil war 50 years ago.
Then, more than one million
people died from the effects of war, starvation and disease. Resentment towards
the federal government has persisted across generations.
Kanu told AFP in May that his aim
was “civil disobedience until we get a referendum” on self-determination and
said it was “the only way forward”.
– Militarisation –
On May 30, IPOB’s call for a
shut-down of shops, schools and businesses to mark the 50th anniversary of the
declaration of Biafran independence was widely observed including in Anambra.
It said a boycott of this weekend’s polls was made to prevent bloodshed.
“This is markedly different from
stopping the election, which involves physically coming out to disrupt the
voting process… violently,” it said in a statement.
It condemned what it said was the
“militarisation” of Anambra and claimed that with the reinforcements there would
be “one polling station to 11 heavily armed security personnel”.
“This militarisation is the more
reason why Biafrans have decided unanimously to stay at home and boycott the
election and avoid being shot and killed,” it added.
The police meanwhile have urged
voters to ignore the IPOB boycott and vote, warning the group that it would
“not hesitate to use all legal means” to prevent any disruption.
Dapo Thomas, a history and
politics lecturer at Lagos state university, said the government had responded
appropriately because IPOB’s call for a boycott was a “threat”.
“The government does not want to
take chances. That’s why it has sent special forces, not only to protect those
willing to vote but also to flex its muscles,” he added.
Political analyst Chris Ngwodo
said a show of force was to be expected because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s
military background and his government’s designation of IPOB as a terrorist
organisation.
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