Governorship/State Assembly elections: IGP orders restriction of movement, assures on security Saturday

.Reiterates ban on VIP aides, escorts, state security outfits
.Rivers petition FG over alleged plot by Amaechi to unleash violence

.As Wike declares Friday as a public holiday

.Resist intimidation, violence, Abe charges voters

Jonas Ezieke, Abuja

As the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections hold tomorrow March 18, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day in all states where elections will be conducted

But those on essential services such as Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC officials, accredited media and observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, and others

However, the directive excludes the Federal Capital Territory FCT as no election is scheduled for Abuja, according to
a statement issued by the Force Spokesman CSP Olumuywa Adejobi.

Similarly, the IGP reiterated the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.

Also, State-established and owned security outfits/organizations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits are barred from participating in election security management.

According to him, the “IGP therefore, urges all citizens to be law abiding during and after the elections even as he assures that all necessary security arrangements have been emplaced to ensure they exercise their franchise unhindered.
“He also urges the general public to contact the Nigeria Police Force headquarters via 08033440189 (DIG Operations), 08033027731 (AIG FEDOPS), and 08034040439 (CP Elections), the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’ on Android and ios, and via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631, to request emergency security response.

“Similarly, other election situation room numbers which have been shared on Nigeria Police social media platforms will be repeatedly released by concerned State Police Commands for necessary emergency contact.

Rivers petition FG over alleged plot by Amaechi to unleash violence

.As Wike declares Friday as a public holiday

.Resist intimidation, violence, Abe charges voters

Meanwhile, Rivers State government has petitioned the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and other relevant authorities not to release army personnel to former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi or any politician to interfere in Saturday’s election.

Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in a state broadcast on Thursday said the State government decided to petition the aforementioned based on credible intelligence indicating the plans by Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to overrun and disrupt the Saturday elections in Rivers State with army personnel and civilian thugs and cultists dressed in army and police uniforms.

He said Amaechi, who alongside the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, were indicted by a Judicial Panel of Inquiry for fraudulently acquiring the State’s valued assets and diverting the State’s $50,000,000.00 to themselves, want to unleash violence during Saturday election.

“We have written to notify the Hon. Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, and the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, and requested that no military personnel is released to Rotimi Amaechi or any other politician to interfere with next Saturday’s elections in Rivers State.
“Furthermore, we have noticed that the Anti-terrorism Unit of the State Police command continues to provide VIP security services to politicians in defiance of the Inspector-General’s order to withdraw all police personnel attached to VIPs during the elections.
“We, therefore request the Inspector-General of Police to enforce his order by ensuring that all political leaders are restricted to their polling units and prevented from moving about with police escort.”

Wike also requested the security agencies to arrest and prosecute the following 27 local politicians who he alleged were plotting to disrupt the elections with armed thugs, cultists, and gangsters in military and police uniforms.

The politicians are: Dr. Lenoonu Nwibubasa, Bright Nwinyoodee, Barika Bareh, Friday Sinee, Dumbari Deezua, Neeka Ikina, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson, Giobari Poiba, Barisi Bonikoo, Hon. Mike Amachree, Paul Lawrence Paul, Anosike Odua, Mr. Ogbams Ojimah, Kenneth Chinda, Smiles Azundah and Gift Welebe.

Others include, Nwobueze Amadi, Chidi Wosa, Ugochukwu Wosu, Ndidi Erim, Lucky Mmai, Baridi Edmund Katara, Solo Filiman Mon, Charles Anyanwu, Christian Don Pedro, Iworiabo Amachree, and Arokosimiya Ikalama

Wike said the State government expects the security high command to live up to their assurance of providing adequate security throughout the State to forestall any security breaches or breakdown of law and order during and after the elections.

“We assure everyone that we will do everything within our power to resist and prevent a repeat of what happened in 2019 when the Nigerian Army was used to rig, kill our people and destroy property during the elections across the State.

The governor urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to guarantee and ensure that next Saturday’s elections are free, fair, and credible, by allowing the electorate to decide their leaders.
Wike stressed that with the quality of progress his administration has delivered in the last eight years, it is evident that Rivers State will be more outstanding and closer to fulfilling its purpose if the current development tempo is strengthened and sustained for the next four years.

To this end, he maintained that his successor should be someone who will consolidate and continue with the new Rivers vision, defend and protect the State’s interests, and propel it to more remarkable progress and prosperity.

“This is precisely what the candidate of the PDP, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, have committed to accomplishing with their blueprint for consolidation and continuity.

Resist intimidation, violence, Abe charges voters

In a related development,
the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State for the March 18 elections, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has charged all voters in the state to dutifully turn out to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice and also defend the validity of their votes.

Abe gave the charge while responding to his conferment with the Chieftaincy Title of Dike Di-Ora-Nma Ndigbo by His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Innocent Adiele Maduagwu, Eze Onu N’ Ekwuru Igbo III Eze Ndigbo Rivers/Bayelsa States in his palace.

He said: “On Saturday, March 18, 2023, we all, as Nigerians, have the right to go out and cast our votes for the candidates of our choices in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“I want to use this opportunity to remind the Igbos, the Hausa people, Yoruba people, Akwa Ibom people, Edo people, the Andonis, Ogbas, Kalabaris, Ndokis, Ibanis, Ekpeyes, Wakrike, Abuans, Odual people, Engennis and all Rivers people that call this place our land, our home, must come out and vote for who we all want to govern us, despite his ethnicity or religious slant and ensure that the same votes are counted and the same votes count, so that we have a leader whom we have all voluntarily elected at the end of the day.
“Stay back after voting and be sure that your votes truly count. Any manner of threats and or intimidation to try to force anyone to vote one way or another must be resisted, because it is totally against the law.
“Let us all freely vote for whoever we want to lead our dear Rivers State, going forward as we all come together united under one leadership”.

He expressed deep appreciation to the Igbo Community in Rivers and Bayelsa States for finding him a worthy friend and ally to partner for the realization of collective dreams of growth and development, assuring that he would not treat such trust with levity.
Earlier, the Eze Ndigbo Rivers/Bayelsa States, Eze Innocent Adiele Maduagwu, Eze Onu N’Ekwuru Igbo III had described Senator Magnus Abe as a friend and brother in times of need, one who truly keeps to his word and not given to threats and frivolities, pointing out that “the entire Igbo Community in these two states are indeed happy to associate with you over the years and so you deserve to be recognized and installed as one of our chiefs”.
Several other titled Igbo chiefs, women, young men and their wives, many of whom are doing legitimate businesses in and around Rivers/Bayelsa States were present at the brief, but colorful installation ceremony in Port Harcourt according to
a statement by Parry Saroh Benson, spokesperson to Senator Abe