[TOP STORY] Anambra Guber: Fear Of IPOB Attack, INEC Ad Hoc Staff Resign En-Masse

The November 6 Anambra State Governorship election may have run into serious hitch, as a huge number of ad hoc Staff recruited for the exercise have resigned due to fear of attacks by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The Pro Biafran group, had last weekend, issued a statement through its Spokesman, Emma Powerful, announcing one week stay- at home in the South – East region beginning from November, should the Federal Government fail to set its leader, Nnamdi Kanu free unconditionally by November.

Our Correspondent learnt that the pronouncement put fear in the Anambra election ad hoc staff, who said they don’t want to risk their lives, going by IP[1]OB’s dreaded antecedents. It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in May increased the polling units in the state from 4,608 to 5,720 with about 10,000 ad hoc workers required for the governorship poll exercise.

However, despite its insistence of preparedness, several of the adhoc workers who signed up for the assignment have resigned without any replacements.

A dependable Source in the Commission said on Monday that: “INEC now short of thousands of ad-hoc staff members due to IPOB declaration. Those who initially signed up have now resigned enmasse.” He said there have been low responses by ad hoc workers who will conduct the poll because of the security situation in the south[1]east region, particularly with the activities of IPOB.