The Guardian (Nigeria)

FG cautions IPOB against disruption of Anambra guber poll

Protest over Buhari’s visit to Imo, Kanu’s detention

- From Lawrence Njoku ( Enugu), Uzoma Nzeagwu ( Awka) and Sodiq Omolaoye ( Abuja) Read the remainder of this story on www. guardian. com

THE

Federal Government, yesterday, declared that it will not allow any separatist group to disrupt the November 6, 2021 governorsh­ip election in Anambra State.

National Security Adviser ( NSA), Maj.- Gen. Babagana Monguno ( rtd.), gave the warning at a meeting of the Inter- Agency Consultati­ve Committee on Election Security ( ICCES) in Abuja.

Monguno spoke against the backdrop of some of the recent activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) in the Southeast, lamenting that hoodlums attacked government facilities and burnt the Anambra State office of the Independen­t National Electoral Commission ( INEC) in May this year.

Although, the police accused members of IPOB of being responsibl­e for the attacks, the group refuted the allegation, a developmen­t that had ignited apprehensi­on that IPOB might mobilise residents of the state to boycott the governorsh­ip election.

But Monguno, who was represente­d by Sanusi Galadima, warned that government would not tolerate any attempts by group or persons to disrupt the poll.

“With the prevalence of security threats occasioned by different dissident separatist groups in the Southeast region of the country, who are bent on scuttling government’s efforts at achieving national cohesion and underminin­g the democratic processes in the country, the Federal Government will not tolerate any group or persons planning to disrupt the smooth conduct of elections by any means,” he said.

Monguno, therefore, assured of robust security deployment to counter any threats and ensuring peaceful conduct of the elections.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission had made arrangemen­ts to replace materials that were lost during the # ENDSARS attack on its office in Awka.

He revealed that plans were underway to rebuild the facilities, which, he said, would be completed before the governorsh­ip election. BESIDES,

residents of Anambra State, yesterday, strengthen­ed the sit- athome ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) to protest against President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Imo State and show solidarity with its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

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