Ohanaeze: Any Attempt to Rig, Manipulate Anambra Election Will Be Resisted

Christopher Isiguzo

Ahead of next Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned that any attempt to rig, manipulate, falsify or impose results on the people of the state will be seriously resisted.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, who gave the warning while speaking with journalists in Enugu said though he has already made representations to President Muhammadu Buhari who assured him that the election would be free and fair, the organisation was not ready to leave anything to chance.

While describing as “nonsensical and ultra vires” the withdrawal of security detail from Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willy Obiano, when other candidates in the election retained their security details, Nwodo said such action was a clear indication that a negative plan was in the offing.

He said the governor by the constitution, remained the Chief Security Officer of the state, wondering why the Inspector General of Police (IG) could endorse such an order.

“On November 18, the people of Anambra State will go to the polls to elect their next governor. Ohanaeze notes with satisfaction the resolve of the people of the state and all the political parties in the state to turn out for the election. Not to do so would be a disservice to Anambra State and Ndigbo.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is insistent that the votes of ndi Anambra must be respected in the Saturday’s election,” he said.

Nwodo further noted that the organisation applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be granted an observer status and accordingly had recruited lecturers from universities and polytechnics to help them in the exercise.

On calls for the boycott of the election by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nwodo such calls were made out of ignorance, and would culminate in an anarchy and declaration of a state of emergency if heeded.