Election: Police disperse protesting women with tear gas in Awka

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.