FOLLOWING widespread violence in the buildup to the November 6 governorship election, the Federal Government says it won’t rule out the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in Anambra State.
While speaking with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Buhari, today, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, said the election must hold.
The minister said the government would take proactive measures to ensure that the democratic order is kept safe.
He said: “When our national security is attacked and the sanctity of our constitutionally guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out.
“As a government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a government, we have a responsibility to provide security to life and properties.
“So, within the context of these constitutional obligations, of the government or the desire to establish democratic norms and order, there is no possibility that is outruled.
“The government will certainly do the needful in terms of ensuring that our elections are held in Anambra in terms of ensuring necessary security is provided, and in terms of ensuring protection is accorded to lives and properties.
“So, what I’m saying in essence, no possibility is outruled by government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that our elections in Anambra holds, and you cannot out rule out possibilities inclusive of the possibility of declaration or state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties and democratic order.
“So, our position as a government is if these elections are going to hold necessary security in terms of democratic order most certainly prevail for the purpose of this election.
“So, we resolve to have these elections the elections are going to hold and no possibilities are ruled out in terms of ensuring the provision of security, for the purpose of the conduct of the election, as far as Anambra is concerned,” Malami said.
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