State at risk of emergency rule if voters refuse to turn out, Oduah warns

Emergency rule could be imposed on Anambra State if voters refuse to turnout for Saturday’s governorship election, warns Senator Stella Oduah.The lawmaker, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, therefore charged political leaders to prevail on their followers to vote en masse.

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) last week had threatened voters with death. The Anambra State police command however had urged residents to exercise their franchise freely, its Public Relations Office, Nkeiruka Nwode, saying the command would effectively monitor the poll. 

Oduah who withdrew from the PDP governorship primary, which produced Oseloka Obaze as standard-bearer, noted that irrespective of political affiliation, the interest of the state was first.

“Our constitution does not allow for half a minute space between the incumbent’s tenure and the next tenure. Therefore if we fail to come out and cast our vote, to have a new governor, what will happen is that the Federal Government will provide an administrator and declare a state of emergency.

“It means that democracy will elude us. The administrator that would be governing us would not be the person we voted for or desire. That is not what we want,” Oduah told journalists in Abuja.

She added: “We must not allow ourselves to be disenfranchised. We must make sure that we come out on November 18 and vote. What Anambra needs now more than anything is peace. We need peace for progress. We need peace for security. We need peace to sustain the development that is coming and that has come. We do not need violence.”

We have had enough killings. Thank God, we have security in Anambra more than in most states. We must make sure that is sustained.”Oduah said: “Our basic human right that is enshrined in the constitution and gives us power to choose who governs us must not be denied us. We will be denying ourselves that, if we fail to come out and vote and protect our vote. It is extremely important that we understand this. I am pleading that all leaders come out and tell their followers to come out and vote on November 18.

“This is not about party; it is about saving our state. It is about making sure that our youths, women and children have a peaceful and enabling environment where good governance and policies thrive.”