How ‘Sit-at-home’ Order Is Threatening Imo Election
The continued insecurity in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, is threatening the gubernatorial off-cycle election that is slated to be held on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
As Saturday’s election approaches, a dusk-to-dawn sit-at-home order from November 9 – November 12, 2023, has been issued by Simon Ekpa across the state with a directive to “deal mercilessly with any gun-carrying persons who are personnel of the Nigerian Army or the Police Force.”
Since the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader and founder of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the armed sister wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the Southeast has witnessed one of the worst insecurities in the history of the region.
The sit-at-home order, which began on July 30, 2021, in solidarity with the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, has posed a major concern – as the enforcers, often referred to as unknown gunmen, threaten the life and property of residents.
According to the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Monday’s sit-at-home order cost the region N5.375 trillion from August 9, 2021, to December 19, 2022.
As witnessed during the Presidential election earlier this year where only 20 percent of voters in Imo turned out to vote, the Imo four-day sit-at-home order also threatens Saturday’s election, with residents hesitant to participate in the exercise.
A resident, who preferred not to be mentioned for security reasons, said that voters might adhere to the order due to fear.
“Most people still sit at home on Mondays, especially in places like Orlu. I believe that there will be a low turnout in the State.”
He also claimed that other political parties do not have a fair playing ground.
“The Imo State election is already heated up. Personally, I have not seen the posters of other political parties inside Owerri Metropolitan. All you’ll see are just that of the All Progressive Congress (APC).”
Governor Hope Uzodinma of APC, who is seeking reelection, has been accused by the opposition of political intimidation and oppression.
On November 1, 2023, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, was whisked away and allegedly brutalised by men believed to be officers of the Nigerian police. The leadership of the Labour Party, one of the major challengers of the governorship position, claimed the attack on Ajaero was state-sponsored and accused the governor of trying to rig the election.
As tension continues to heighten on the safety of Imo electorates, Michael Abattam, the newly promoted Assistant Commissioner of Police, declined to comment on Neusroom’s inquiries as he’s no longer the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer. He directed Neusroom to speak with Henry Okoye, the current PRO.
Okoye is yet to respond to calls and texts Neusroom sent to his line on how the Police Force is working to ensure that citizens lives are protected during the election.
However, Punch Newspaper reported that 15 Commissioners of Police, 29 Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 40 Assistant Commissioners of Police have been deployed to oversee the off-cycle election in Imo State this Saturday.
