Awka under siege as Obiano orders police to stop Awka town union election

www.odogwublog.com reports exclusively that Awka the Anambra state capital is litrally under siege.
Commuters find it difficult to pass through the Arthur Eze Avenue access road in Awka,Anambra state today as police barricaded the road.
Other  major streets and hotels premises in Awka, the Anambra state capital were under siege by policemen over the town union election of the community.
The  Emmaus House complex, the widely publicized venue of the election was sealed off as early as 6am by a sea of armed police men and other security agents, reportedly drafted from within and outside the state.
The nearby Choice hotel was also under police surveillance as both plain cloth as uniformed police officers took over the whole place to keep tab on all discussions.
The police prevented even journalists who came to cover the event from going into the venue or interview any of the dramatis personae in sight.
This therefore forced them to move to  Finotel hotel, a distance of about two kilometers to address the press about the development.
Shortly after the movement to the new venue, 10 trucks load of gun-totting policemen led by the Divisional Police officer in charge of Central Police Station,Mr Ajagbe stormed the place also
The DPO told the gathering at the Finotel hotel  that , “ I have the instruction of my Commissioner (CP)to stop this gathering.
“This gathering cannot continue, Agbaje maintained.
 When contacted on the telephone about the unusual police presence in  the state capital , the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Nkeiru Nwode said the police were deployed to maintained peace and order.
 She added that “This is to ensure that hoodlums do not capitalize on the situation to cause mayhem".
Addressing the press, the Chairman of caretaker committee who were mandated to conduct the election, Mr Emmanuel Okechukwu, a lawyer, said the grouse of the police was that the community did not obtain permission from them  to conduct the election.
“This is military hangover. There is no law known to me that says, you must obtain police permit before you can conduct a peaceful town union election.
“Do you need to get police permit to eat food? All these are military mentality. This must stop.
“But one thing is clear, we must conduct this election, even if it means conducting in my room, it must be conducted, Okechukwu stated.
The Abuja branch chairman of the union, Mr Emeka Onyeaka said the branches of the union returned to Awka to participate in the election following a court order that the election should be conducted within 90 days.
 He accused the Special Adviser to Gov Willie Obiano of frustrating the whole exercise for selfish interest.
They lamented the huge logistical resources already spent in the aborted election.
They bemoaned that Gov Obiano may not be aware of unfair and negative things being perpetrated by his aides, especially in stoking crises in  about 120 communities out of 177.
They wondered why persons who should be smoothening ways for the governor are the ones troubleshooting all over the place.
They therefore want Obiano to call his commissioner for local govt/chieftaincy matters,Greg Obi and adviser on Town Union matters, Ikechukwu Onyeabor to order as they have been creating problems all over the state.