The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has explained why the Aide Camp (ADC) to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra was withdrawn.
He said the Police authority withdrew Obiano’s security personnel due to the forthcoming governorship election in the state – and to prevent the re-occurrence of past experience.
According to him, the military had in the past caught an ADC to an unnamed governor escorting a vehicle loaded with arms on Election Day.
Idris gave the explanation on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, during Election Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held in Awka, the state capital.
It was reported that at the forum, Obiano raised an alarm that he woke up on Tuesday morning to find that his ADC had been directed by the Police High Command to vacate him.
He said the directive had put his life in danger, adding that the action is unacceptable and unfair treatment of his person and office.
The governor stated that his standing for re-election does not remove the fact that he is the Chief Security Officer of the state.
But the IG stressed that the withdrawal was not personal.
He said, “We do not mean anything bad to Anambra governor on this action; his ADC will be returned to him early Sunday morning after the governorship election on Saturday Nov.18.
“We have equally withdrawn all the policemen attached to political appointees, Local Government Chairmen and others in Anambra till after the election.”
However, the Police Force has deployed 26, 000 personnel, 300 vehicles, three helicopters and 15 gunboats for the poll.
Idris added that the deployment of policemen and other security personnel is not to cause panic but to give the people the needed protection.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said everything is in place for the polls.
Mahmood added that distribution of non-sensitive materials would commence on Thursday, while the sensitive materials would arrive the state via Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Thursday.
