Anambra Election: Police disperse protesting women with tear gas in Awka

  

SCORES of women from various parts of the state who protested, yesterday, over the conduct of Anambra governorship poll on Saturday, had a rough deal at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as they were dispersed with tear gas canisters by the police attached to the commission.

The women, who marched through some streets in Awka and ended up at INEC head office were calling for total cancellation of the election.
Some of them carried placards that read “Anambra not for sale,” “No election was conducted in Anambra,” and “We want fresh poll not supplementary poll.” 

As the women ran for their dear lives, two of them fainted and they were helped out by their colleagues.

Their leader, Mrs. Tina Akonobi, said that they were at the commission’s office to “mourn for the disaster, destruction, doom, robbery and fraud that took place on the November 16.”    
       
She said: “The election was a sham aimed at insulting the integrity, intelligence and intellectual ability of the people of the state and Nigeria in general.

“INEC brought a fraudulent register three days to election where they removed names of voters whose names start with the letter ‘O” like Okonkwo and Okeke at Idemili. 

“They brought fraudulent people to conduct election here; it was a scam and destruction of a generation and Igboland. 

“We are calling for the cancellation and resignation of Professor Attahiru Jega for the doom that is impending because this is what will happen in 2015.”

A retired school principal, Mrs. Efem Ifacy, said “we over trusted Jega and he has disappointed us.” 

According to her, the Saturday election has created a situation where brothers fear brothers, saying that it was a sign of socio-political divide to come among the people. 

She alleged massive inducement of voters by political parties even in the presence of security operatives especially at Umuogwalu, Ward four, in Awka South where she voted.

According to her, many people did not vote in many areas due to non availability of election materials and accuesed the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega of betraying the people of Anambra State.