Some fear-stricken residents of Anambra State locked themselves up at home for much of Friday as the clock ticked toward the 8am commencement of voting for governor in the today.
The situation left the streets deserted, markets empty and banks shut.
Some residents even chose to travel out of the State, unsure of what might happen during the election.
And that was despite the assurances from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that it had withdrawn the one week sit-at-home order it handed down to coincide with the election.
The Police, buoyed by the deployment of 34000 security personnel for the polls, told voters that they have nothing to worry about as they troop to the polling stations today, even as fresh controversy erupted over the unexpected re-deployment of a Deputy Inspector General of Police, and an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), sent purposely to supervise security for the election by the police hierarchy.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo also made a last minute appeal to voters in the State to come out and exercise their right today.
The self-imposed sit-at-home by residents appeared to have been partly fuelled by the two days of work free declared by the state government for the people to prepare for the election.
Several residents had spent the last few days to shore up their food reserves at home.
Some residents said they found the large presence of security personnel and deployment of arms and ammunition in the state ahead of the election intimidating.
Some were seen at motor parks boarding vehicles to Enugu, Delta, Edo and Abia, among other states.
One of such residents who gave her name as Chidera said she was on her way to nearby Asaba, Delta State, until after the election.
Another resident, Maurice, left for Enugu on Thursday saying he was not comfortable staying in Awka during the period of the election.
A resident who declined being named said: “Nobody wants to lose his or her life. The fear IPOB has created in Igbo land will take some time to be forgotten
“Again, it might be a ploy to lure the people out to slaughter them. Personally, I don’t trust them and the way they operate. The security people who are telling people to come out, can they be trusted?
“We are in a critical condition not only in Anambra, but in the entire Igbo land. Me and my household, we will not go anywhere.”
But the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C Don Adinuba, said it is not true that residents were fleeing the state.
He said those seen traveling were people from far places like Ayamelum in the state who wanted to go home to cast their votes where they registered.
Adinuba said: “You know the governor declared a two day work free day in the State which are Thursday and Friday. The workers who live in urban centres use the opportunity to travel on time and again, you know it’s still raining.
“No one is leaving Anambra State because of insecurity, those you saw are people from far areas in the State like Ayamelum, who want to go and vote.
“If you say they are relocating, what State in Nigeria is safer than Anambra State? People should grow beyond such propaganda.”
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Zaki Ahmed, said heavy deployment of security agencies was not to scare residents
Rather, he said they were here to secure life and property. He said the police men would work with other sister agencies, in making sure that the governorship election was free and fair.
Police give fresh assurance on security of life, property
The police command in the state said yesterday that security agents were fully prepared to ensure a peaceful process of election today.
Police Commissioner Echeng Echeng, in an update, said in Awka that he was impressed with the level of security ahead of the poll.
He said: “Yesterday, we commenced aerial surveillance of the entire State and we are covering the entire State.
“The aerial surveillance is to feed those on ground with information to enable them tackle any security concern anywhere across the State.”
Echeng acknowledged complaints by the residents about the heavy presence of security men across the state but said they should “feel free at the sight of security men in their areas, because they are there to provide security and not to intimidate any lawful person.”
He added: “We have equally told our personnel to be civil to the people, but for anyone coming out to make trouble, let them deal decisively with such trouble makers.”
Ohanaeze urges voters to come out
President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor, pleaded with residents of Anambra State to come out and exercise their franchise in the election.
Obiozor also urged the residents not to be intimidated by the presence of the security operatives sent to the state, saying that their presence was to assist them have a hitch-free election.
“The presence of security operatives in thousands should not be a source of fear and trepidation rather a confidence building dynamic by the federal government to guarantee adequate security of lives and property in the State,” he said.
But he asked the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police and all the Service Chiefs whose men are involved in the Anambra election to ensure that the security operatives observe strictly the best global standard of rules of engagement with the good people of Anambra State.
He said: “The federal security operatives should synergize with the traditional rulers, town union presidents and local community vigilante for effective coordination of the voting process”.
Obiozor hailed IPOB for backing down on its one week sit-at-home order and prayed that the best candidate should win the election.
Parties woo voters with gifts in last minute rush for support
Some of the political parties were locked in a last minute battle Friday to woo voters to their side with various gifts.
Reports from across the State said items shared to prospective voters included rice, tomatoes, wrappers, T-shirts, fridges, television sets and electricity generating sets.
One of the leading parties was alleged to have, given out half bag of rice to each voter after presenting their voters cards.
Another party handed out N1,000 cash and a bottle of malt drink while a top female politician in the distributed wrappers, T -shirts and assorted gifts.
– Media Report