By Magnus Aluma
As the presidential election holds, the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi said he was worried about the unauthorized use of arms by politicians in the state. The governor made his feelings known, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of an election security council meeting held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital on Friday.
He promised a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election and directed security agencies in the state to arrest and prosecute anyone caught with arms. The governor said adequate security measures had been put in place, to ensure the citizens exercised their franchise, without molestation and intimidation.
Umahi further said: “We also got a surprise package from security chiefs from Abuja, all geared towards having a free and fair election.” He disclosed that flying officers from the Nigerian Air Force Base in Enugu, would be on surveillance, flying low to maintain law during the exercise, adding that he had instructed party members not to violate electoral laws.
According to him, “the efforts are to instil confidence in the voters, as the deployment of electoral materials and personnel have been concluded to ensure free and fair elections.” Umahi further charged security agencies in the state, to ensure that movement across polling units during elections is prohibited.
He said: “We have also agreed that anybody seen with gun that shouldn’t have gun or trying to disrupt the election processes should be immediately arrested and taken away.”
