The Imo State Police Command and the National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyawu, have commended the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s elections in the state. They gave the commendation on Sunday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while giving their assessment of the election in the state.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Henry Okoye, said that the command did not record any violence or any arrest in any polling unit. He further noted that security operatives deployed for the election performed their duties professionally.
“Our men conducted themselves in the best professional, democratic and human-right compliant manner, and I can tell you that Imo people can attest to this,” Okoye said.
Likewise, Sen. Samuel Anyawu, who hailed the Police and other security operatives for their professional conduct, said there was no report of violence in his area. Anyawu expressed optimism for an improved process in subsequent elections.
“The process was peaceful, except for the fact that INEC officials were not so conversant with the BVAS. Although they managed the situation, they were slow in handling the BVAS machine,” Anyawu said.
However, Okoye declined comments when asked about attempts by suspected hoodlums to disrupt Saturday’s election process in Orsu. NAN gathered that security operatives intercepted election materials which were hijacked by the hoodlums in Orsu. An eyewitness said security operatives neutralized the hoodlums and duly returned the materials to the INEC officials. According to the source, the election subsequently proceeded peacefully in the area.
