The Anambra governorship election holds on Saturday.

The Nigeria Police has imposed a 36-hour curfew on Anambra for Saturday’s governorship election.

The curfew is to start from 6:00 p.m. on Friday to 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, the police said in a statement by its spokesperson, Frank Mba.

“The Nigeria Police High Command has ordered a restriction of movement within the boundaries of Anambra State with effect from 6.00pm on Friday, 15th November, 2013 to 6.00am on Sunday, 17th November, 2013.

“Consequently, all states contiguous to Anambra State – the states of Delta, Enugu, Imo, Abia etc will be heavily policed.” Mr. Mba said.

He said people on essential duties are not affected by this order.

He reminded citizens that the police is not ignorant of their rights to freedom of movement, as enshrined in the constitution; saying the directive is a preemptive measure aimed at forestalling elaborate plans by faceless groups to undermine the electoral process as gathered through intelligence reports.

“The apex Police Authority therefore, while empathizing with the citizenry over the inconveniences the order may cause, implores them to see this order as very necessary in the present circumstance and geared towards the quest for a seamless, credible and successful gubernatorial election,” he said.

Mr. Mba suggested that travellers should take advantage of alternate routes to their destinations where necessary between Friday and Sunday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier imposed a 22-hour curfew on Anambra from 12 midnight on Friday to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday; a move that was condemned by the All Progressives Congress.

Also, according to the police spokesperson, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has warned all security details not to accompany their principals and politicians to different polling units and collation centres during the election.

The police boss had earlier deployed three new Commissioners of Police to Anambra to assist in security operations during the election.

Mr. Mba said the police boss warned that only personnel specifically assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.

source here: www.premiumtimesng.com/news/149579-police-impose-36-hour-curfew-anambra-governorship-election.html