Cross River Bye-Election: Police Restricts Movement, INEC Yet To Respond To Allegation Of Compromise By Officials

By Archibong Jeremiah

The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Abdulkadir Jimoh, has ordered a restriction in movement of persons, group of persons and motorists within the five Local Government Councils where Northern Senatorial/State House of Assembly bye-election are to hold, 5 December, 2020.

A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Irene Ugbo in Calabar stated that the restriction covers the periods of 6am to 6pm on the Election Day except those on essential duties who must bear identification tags.

“This is to inform the general public that in view of the upcoming Cross River State Northern Senatorial/State House of Assembly Bye Election slated for 5th December 2020, the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Abdulkadir Jimoh, as part of efforts to check criminalities, has banned the movement of persons, group of persons and motorists within the five affected Local Government Councils between the period of 6am to 6pm on the election day except those on essential duties and must bear identification tags.

“Similarly, members of the public, political class and the electorates are hereby advised to go about their lawful businesses and eschew any act that will cause breach of peace before, during and after the election as any act inimical will be decisively dealt with in line with the laws of the land.”

The Command enjoined all political stalwarts, contestants and their followers to play by the rules as enshrined in the electoral act 2010 as amended.

In a related development, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu is yet to respond to a petition from Cross River League of Good Governance (CRLGG), over alleged attempt by its officials to compromise the forthcoming Cross River North Senatorial bye-election.

The group, in the petition dated November 28, and signed by its President and Secretary, Godwin Odu and Effiong Bassey respectively, alleged that some top officials of the organization in the State, who are in the legal department, operation department, and training unit, had already collected bribe to compromise the bye-election.

The group claimed that officials on ground in Cross River State have obtained unassailable evidence against some INEC staff over their alleged plot to compromise.