•Heavy police presence

From Geoffrey
Anyanwu, Awka

The ruling party in Anambra State, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) might end up being the only political party contesting in today’s local government election being conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).
Other political parties under the aegis of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) had on Monday in an official letter to ANSIEC, which was also published as advertorial in the Daily Sun newspaper stated that they would not participate in the said election because ANSIEC allegedly violated the electoral laws in the procedure to election.
IPAC had said: “That the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission having failed and neglected to display the register of voters that will be used in conducting the purported January 11, 2014, local government council elections in Anambra State, to allow for claims and objections in line with the provisions of the electoral laws, is illegal and totally unacceptable.
“…That the registered political parties in Anambra State will not participate in any local government council election on Saturday, January 11, 2014, or any other date, until the register of voters that will be used in conducting the said election is displayed and the names and particulars of candidates of political parties for the election are published in line with the provisions of the electoral laws.”
But ANSIC had continued with preparation for today’s election ignoring the boycott threat and had at noon yesterday concluded distribution of electoral materials to all the 21 local government areas in the state with the staff and Adhoc staff of the commission seen yesterday afternoon moving out their materials in hired buses.
Also at ANSIEC office yesterday, only APGA members were seen monitoring the sharing and movement of materials.
At the time of filing this report, Justice Isah Bature Gafai of the Federal High Court Awka, had stood down the matter in the application by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its suit against INEC and ANSIEC, urging the court to grant it an interim injunction stopping today’s election scheduled by ANSIEC, for ruling for 5.30pm yesterday.
Earlier at the court yesterday, Counsel to APC, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), and that of ANSIEC, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), had engaged in a legal war on the issue before the stood down by the judge.
On its part, the state police command has deployed its men all around the state to ensure security; just as well armed mobile policemen in their numbers were stationed at the ANSIEC office.
Commenting on the heavy presence of police, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka (DSP), said it was to forestall law and order adding that every policeman in the command was involved in the election warning people to desist from fermenting trouble during the election.
Meanwhile, Governor Peter Obi yesterday, ordered all government offices closed at 12.30pm to give the citizens time to prepare for the election.

Source: Sun