The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, says he is no longer comfortable standing for the November 18 governorship election in the state.
He said this on Tuesday during election stakeholders’ meeting by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka.
Mr. Obiano said the withdrawal of his security details four days to the poll was ominous as it had exposed his life to threat.
The governor described the act as unacceptable and dangerous. He demanded the return of his security details in order not to constitute further threats capable of overheating the polity, adding that he would fight back if nothing is done about it.
He said: “I want my security details returned immediately because I am going to start a fight from there. I am the governor of Anambra State and all the paraphernalia of my office must be there. This is unacceptable and a sign of what will happen. Those behind this would be disappointed because we are very ready for this election.”
Earlier, the governor had complained of not being accorded recognition by the moderator of the function, but the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the event was a stakeholders’ meeting and as such no candidate would be accorded any special treatment regardless of his position.
According to him, the commission insists on equal treatment of all candidates in the election and that they should not only have equal standing, but must be respected.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, said that the police decided to withdraw policemen attached to politicians because of previous experiences, where such cops worked for their masters.
He said that for the purpose of avoiding a repeat of the past where governor’s security details abandoned their official duty to indulge in election job can no longer be tolerated.
“We are withdrawing the Governor’s ADC because of previous experiences in some states where some of those ADCs would be arrested carrying sensitive election materials and thump printed ballot papers.
“We have done this for so long time now and it is nothing new. This is not the first time. We want to ensure that this election is transparent as well ensure security with no security man accused of bias,” he said.
