Rights group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has supported Gov William Obiano of Anambra State in rejecting the latest announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its decision to use Imo State for storage of its sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials for the Nov 6, 2021 Anambra governorship election.

It would be recalled that the Commission had cited the burning of the Commission’s Headquarters in Awka, Anambra State, by some non-state actor gunmen as a reason to use Imo State for storage of its materials for the all-important poll.

Intersociety while backing Obiano to reject the decision, explained that it was God that exposed the INEC’s latest ‘clear-cut rigging strategy’.

Citing reasons why Imo should not be considered as ‘INEC’s alternative storage facilities’, it noted that Imo State is totally out because Enugu State is closer while Delta State is closest, adding that by demography, geopolitics, history and facilities, Enugu is more considered.

The group further explained that Anambra also has a well built and protective Central Bank of Nigeria structure-a stone throw from the State’s INEC secretariat at Awka.

Intersociety said Imo is insecure, roguishly democratized and also a ‘virus State'.

“By mileage, Asaba, the Capital City of Delta State is about ten minutes drive from Anambra State and if measured from Asaba to Awka, the Capital City of Anambra State, it is less than one hour drive, same if measured from Awka to Enugu; as against over two hours’ drive from Awka to Owerri.

“By democracy, governance and securitization, Imo State has earned the inglorious status of a rogue federating Unit or State in the entire Eastern Nigeria. That is to say that the State is not only insecure and roguishly democratized but also a virus State under Gov Hope Uzodimma. Most importantly, since democracy sacredly belongs to the people of nobility and conscientious men and women and geared towards decent and peaceful society, Imo State is totally unfit and a meddlesome interloper in matters of credible election and institution of democratic government powered by popular, participatory and credible electoral process.

“The State, therefore, must not be allowed to have anything whatsoever to do with the conduct of the Nov 6 2021 Anambra Governorship Poll.

“Similar sharp practices were the case with the Commission during the 2019 general polls particularly the presidential and the state assembly polls in Anambra State. INEC’s direct and indirect electoral manipulations then had included abandonment of authenticated results from the polling booths especially those in Form ECAs, hired disruption of collection and signing of results at polling booths’ generated Form ECAs or hijacking of signed result sheets on their way to ward and LGA electoral centers, tempering and corruption of card readers, non accreditation of voters, non or late arrival of electoral personnel and materials, burning or tearing of recorded result sheets, disruption of voting, INEC’s indoor mangling and falsification of returned results, sponsored violence and deliberate creation of security tensions or artificial insecurity to scare away independent voters, etc,” Intersociety stated in a release by its Principal Officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chinwe Umeche Esq., Obianuju Igboeli Esq., Chidimma Udegbunam, Esq on Friday.

Intersociety while warning against a repeat of the 2017 scientific rigging in the Nov 2017 Governorship Election in Anambra State, called on INEC to distance itself from having anything to do with Imo State in the Nov 6 Anambra Governorship Election whether by storage of voting materials or movement of its career and non-career electoral officers from the State to Anambra.

Intersociety urged INEC to inform the Anambra People how many of them that are credibly cleared to vote in the Nov 6 Governorship Election, especially those with valid PVCs including their names and number as well as those recently captured as ‘eligible voters’ and the number issued with PVCs or otherwise.

It also charged the commission to ensure that Anambra Public is aware traceably the locations of the State’s new ‘5,720’ polling units or booths and electoral wards where they are located.

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