Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, may still be open for dialogue with the Independent Peoples of Biafra or the Eastern Security Network concerning the November 2021 Anambra elections, Daily Review Online has learnt.
INEC spokesman Festus Okoye said on Thursday during an interview with Arise TV that while the commission has been engaging stakeholders including security agencies, civil society organisations and other relevant bodies, it has not yet engaged IPOB/ESN because the group is outlawed by the federal government.
“We recognise political parties, we recognise the people of Anambra state, we recognise civil society groups and organisations, we recognise traditional institutions and the clergy, so if they are part of civil society groups and organisation and they attend our programs we will tell them what we want to do in relation to Anambra elections,” Mr Okoye said.
“But in terms of IPOB, the commission will not go out of its way to go and engage with an organisation that the federal government has declared as illegal. So we won’t do that,” he added.
Anambra has witnessed heighten crisis in recent weeks, with daredevil gunmen wreaking havoc on state assets and individuals.
Many have continued to blame IPOB for the incessant attacks on the state and other states in the southeast region.
Stakeholders in Anambra election had raised alarm over the upsurge in cases of violent attacks on individuals and government facilities in Anambra as the governorship election in the state draws closer.
Violent attacks have escalated in the past few weeks forcing a halt in political campaigns in the state. Both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party candidates suspended their campaigns after their supporters were murdered by unknown gunmen.
Following the incessant crisis, Attorney-General Abubakar Malami last week threatened to declare a state of emergency before the state’s gubernatorial elections next month.
Mr Malami said insecurity has spiked across the state, the largest in Igbo-dominate South-East, in recent weeks and the administration will not allow hoodlums overtake constitutional order.