The Federal Government has called
on eligible voters in Anambra Sate to disregard threats by the proscribed
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and turn out to exercise their franchise
during Saturday’s governorship polls.
Director General of the National
Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, was reacting to the “vote and die”
threat issued by IPOB.
Members of the IPOB had on Friday
marched across major roads in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State
ahead of the November 18, gubernatorial election in the state.
Their key message is that
Anambrarians should boycott the election; threatening that whoever votes will
die.
They said, “We want the federal
government to produce Nnamdi kanu with immediate effect or there will be no
peace. Come vote and die. If you vote, you will die.”
Reacting, however, Abari in a
statement on Monday reassured Anambrarians that security agencies were fully
prepared and on ground to ensure safety of voters before, during and after the
election.
“The renewed threat by IPOB is
not taking the authorities by surprise. All adequate measures to checkmate
their excesses and those and other unlawful groups with regards to the election
are already in place.
“The security agencies are
prepared to forestall any breakdown of law and order and to protect voters,
other election actors and the general public toward a hitch-free election.
“Also, the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) is very prepared to conduct the election. Let no
one be afraid or in doubt; the election will hold on November 18, and will be
free and credible. Voters are therefore implored to turn out en masse, without
fear of intimidation, and freely cast their votes”, he said.
Abari described the renewed
threat by the outlawed group as an attempt to stampede the will of the people.
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