Anambra guber: Legal moves commence to prevent disruption of poll

A Federal High Court in Abuja has been approached to stop Nnamdi Kanu and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from disrupting the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Anambra State scheduled for November 18, 2017.

Others joined in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/756/2017 are the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Commandant General Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Justice Babatunde Quadri has directed that all the court processes be served after listening to
submissions by Smart Iheazor in the suit filed by Dr. Richard Ndubuaku.

 Ndubuaku, who described himself as businessman based in Awka, wants the court to restrain IPOB from making utterances or taking actions that will disrupt the election.

He also wants the court to restrain IPOB from harassing or intimidating  voters in or mobilising their members to scuttle the planned election.

Ndubuaku argued that there was the need for the court to grant the orders he sought because IPOB could carry out their threat to disrupt the election if not restrained.

The plaintiff stated, in a supporting affidavit, that Kanu and IPOB members “have serially made utterances and threats to disrupt the conduct of the governorship election in Anambra State this November.

“The respondents (1st and 2nd) are capable of carrying out their threat, and if this happens, many lives will be lost. And properties destroyed, which will include that of the plaintiff.

“If the defendants are not restrained, it may lead to confrontation. With other law abiding citizens, who insist on electing their governor and a clash with the defendants will occasion blood bath as there would be total breakdown of law and order,” Ndubuaku said.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation has said it will resist any plan to disrupt the forthcoming election.
The Anambra State chairman of Ohanaeze, Damian Ogene said this yesterday when the organisation paid a courtesy visit to its former President General, Dozie Ikedife in Nnewi.

Ogene said Ohanaeze had advised the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nmandi Kanu many times against his insistence that the election would not hold.

“No single person or group to stop the election and Kanu himself knows that Anambra people are preparing for the election and he cannot afford to disrupt it.  He has been made to understand the negative consequences of tampering with the election which would be a disservice to the state” Ogene said.