Anambra poll: IGP increases restriction of movement to 36 hours

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has increased the period for the restriction of movement for Saturday’s Anambra State gubernatorial poll from 22 hours to 36 hours.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had initially announced a 22-hour curfew for the election.
But in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, Abubakar said the restriction of movement would be from 6pm on Friday till 6am on Sunday.
Abubakar also warned all security details not to accompany their principals to the polling booths and collation centres during the election.
He vowed to bring the full weight of the law to bear on anyone who flouts the directives of the force on the election.
The statement by Mba reads in full: “In furtherance of strategies designed to prevent electoral fraud and violence and thus ensure a smooth and orderly conduct of the Anambra State gubernatorial election slated for Saturday, 16th November, 2013, the Nigeria Police High Command has ordered a restriction of movement within the boundaries of Anambra State with effect from 6.00pm on Friday, 15th November, 2013 to 6.00am on Sunday, 17th November, 2013. Consequently, all states contiguous to Anambra State – the states of Delta, Enugu, Imo, Abia etc will be heavily policed. However, those on essential duties are not affected by this order. Meanwhile, the Force has sternly warned all security details to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election. It reiterates that only Police personnel specifically assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.
“The Force High Command notes that the restriction order is informed by the exigencies of overriding security considerations. Noting that the Force is not ignorant of the citizens’ right to freedom of movement, as enshrined in the constitution, it however insists that this is a preemptive measure aimed at forestalling elaborate plans by faceless groups to undermine the electoral process as gathered through intelligence reports.
“The apex Police Authority therefore, while empathizing with the citizenry over the inconveniences the order may cause, implores them to see this order as very necessary in the present circumstance and geared towards the quest for a seamless, credible and successful gubernatorial election.
“The Force also suggests that travellers should take advantage of alternate routes to their destinations where necessary within the days – Friday 15th – Sunday 17th November, 2013, that this order is in Force.”