UNEASY calm pervades Owerri, the Imo State capital, as heavily armed security operatives patrol the nooks and crannies of the city.

The Guardian reliably gathered that over 10,000 security operatives have been posted to the state since last week. They consist 6000 military and mobile policemen and 4000 policemen.

The atmosphere is tense and residents are worried. Posters of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were seen all over the town.

Interestingly, posters of other gubernatorial candidates are either absent or are posted at inconspicuous places.

On the spot interviews of residents showed that the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Rochas Okorocha, and Ohakim of the PDP are topping the peoples’ wish list.

At the Sam Mbakwe Airport, there was heavy security presence with over 400 cars that include military, police and private vehicles (most had posters of Ohakim and President Goodluck Jonathan).

It could not be confirmed whether they waited for the arrival of INEC election materials or President Jonathan, who some said was to arrive Owerri en route to Ohafia in Abia State.

This caused a heavy traffic that stretched into the town.

A taxi driver (name withheld) who spoke to The Guardian said: “We are afraid of what is going to happen during the elections. More than 70 per cent of the people here want Rochas to win because he has been giving scholarship to people. People are saying that if he becomes the governor, he will do more. My fear is that if he does not win, the people will not be happy and may riot.

“The present administration has been frustrating him. They did not allow him to use the stadium or other public places in Owerri town for his campaign. So I fear for this election.”

-Guardian

Posted by admin on Apr 10 2011. Filed under Elections 2011, Imo, State News, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry