The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami has said if the security situation in Anambra did not improve before November 6 governorship election Federal Government may declare a state of emergency in Anambra in State.
According to The Nation, this came after Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expressed worry over the rising violence in the state but vowed that November 6 date for the poll was sacrosanct.
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INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said: “From the reports, we have received, the stated goal of many of the attackers is that the governorship election scheduled for 6th November 2021 must not hold.
“This is worrisome for the commission.
We are deeply concerned that specific electoral facilities and materials could once more become targets of attack.
Malami speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday gave a hint of the possibility of a state of emergency in the Anambra. This he made known after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. He also added that no option would be ruled out by the government in ensuring that democratic order is kept safe.
His words: “When our national security is attacked and the sanctity of our constitutionally guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out.
“As a government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a government, we have a responsibility to provide security to life and properties.
“So, within the context of these constitutional obligations, of the government or the desire to establish democratic norms and order, there is no possibility that is out ruled.
“The government will certainly do the needful in terms of ensuring that our elections are held in Anambra in terms of ensuring necessary security is provided, and in terms of ensuring protection is accorded to lives and properties.
“What I’m saying in essence, no possibility is out ruled by a government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that our elections in Anambra State hold, and you cannot out rule possibilities inclusive of the possibility of a declaration of a state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties, and democratic order.
“We have resolved to have these elections the elections are going to hold and no possibilities are ruled out in terms of ensuring the provision of security, for the purpose of the conduct of the election, as well as Anambra State is concerned.”
Meanwhile, the nation’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, kicked against the contemplation of a state of emergency by the government in a statement released by their respective Secretary.
PDP statement read in part: “This demand is predicated on apprehensions in the public space that the spate of insecurity in Anambra State is contrived to heighten tension in the state so as to derail the democratic process to the advantage of the APC.
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“The PDP insists that the Federal Government has the capacity to ensure peace in Anambra State before, during, and even after the election, if it so desired. We, therefore, invite the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government to be guided accordingly.”
The Afenifere statement partly reads: “If anyone is to be blamed for security lapses in various parts of the country, it should be the Federal Government.
“The hypocrisy in the threat by the Attorney-General became manifest because no state of emergency has been announced to be in the offing in states where serious security challenges have been occurring for months, if not years.
The states include Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, Niger where even sections of local governments are under the control of bandits as announced by the state governor.”
