Anambra election: Motorists, others defy restriction of movement order

By Obinna Unaeze and Monday Ajogun

Residents and commercial vehicle operators in some parts of Anambra on Saturday defied the restriction of movement ordered by the Police during the ongoing governorship election.

The Police had on Friday announced total restriction of movement in the state from the midnight to 6.00 p.m. on Saturday.

However vehicles were seen plying the express way from the Awka axis, the capital down, to Amawbia and Enugwu-Ukwu Communities in Awka South and Njikoka LGA of Anambra.

According to report, no fewer than 30 vehicles were seen by 7:20 am on Saturday plying the express way from the Awka axis, the capital down, to Amawbia and Enugwu-Ukwu Communities in Awka South and Njikoka LGA of Anambra.

The correspondent who monitored compliance with non-vehicular movement order by the police observed that there was no 100 percent compliance.

Commercial buses and private cars were seen driving round unhindered and conveying passengers standing on the roadside to Onitsha, Nkpor- Enugwu-Ukwu and Abagana axis of the state.

Also security vehicles were seen driving along the road to their various locations while at Abagana police station the officers are yet to be deployed to their various duty areas.

Also, some petty traders shops were open to willing customers.

Mrs Theresa Chinweuko who was frying bean cake(Akara) told the correspondent that she needed to make quick sales today to feed her family.

Chinweuko said that many people have patronized her this morning as people needed to eat before voting.

Also around the Abagana area before the Oye Agu market, police were seen stopping vehicles and demanding their movement locations and parking some vehicles and cyclists who were unable to explain their movement.

It was also observed that most restaurants within the Abagana area were making foods and chasing people not patronising them away.

At St. Michael Church, Nawfia ward 2 that acts as Super Rack for ward 1 and 2 with 14 polling units each, INEC officials were present at 7.47a.m.

The supervisor was on ground arranging with the bus drivers to start going to their post with officers on ground.

The correspondent also observed that commercial vehicles were operating freely in some parts of Awka, the state capital, while commuters boarding the vehicles.

The situation was the same from Ogidi Local Government Area to Nkpor junction.

It was also observed the presence of security personnel on the popular Nkpor road as well as other spots and popular junctions across the state capital.

Late arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in some polling units in Awka and Onitsha were also observed.

For instance, the INEC officials manning Agwuoka polling unit 008 were seen being dropped at their duty posts at exactly 8:40 a.m while their counterparts in Aroma polling unit 022 were seeing setting up their stand about the same time.

Also, at the Awka South Local Government Area, an INEC official monitoring the exercise, Mrs Mary Fajoye, said that election materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive, had left the INEC office in the council area since yesterday.

Fajoye said although there were initial hitches by polling officers in locating some of their registration areas, she, however, said that the matter had been sorted out.

Also at Amawbia 02, Polling Unit 3, Central School 111, Awka South, officials and materials were already set as 8:19 a.m. awaiting official commencement of voting by 8:30 a.m.

The Presiding Officer, Mr Mark Kalu, of Polling Unit 3, was seen addressing the electorate on the preparedness and process for the conduct of the poll.

Kalu, who appealed for decorum, informed the voters that priority would be given to albinos, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the aged.

As at the time of filing this report, accreditation of voters had commenced at the Polling Unit, Eze Chima Primary School on Awka Road.

(NAN)