With less than 24 hours to the governorship election in Anambra State on Saturday, the Inspector General of Police has dismissed the Deputy Inspector General, DIG Joseph Egbunike, as the head of the election team.
Though Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, confirmed that DIG Egbunike had stood down when approached about the situation, no cause was given for the departure of the experienced senior officer who is an Anambra State native.
DIG Egbunike has been replaced by DIG Zaki Ahmed, the Acting Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of Operations.
While announcing the quick change of baton, DSP Nkeiruka Nwode, a Public Relations Officer attached to the Anambra Election Monitoring Team, said the move would not affect the election’s conduct.
According to investigations carried out the decision to remove DIG Egbunike may have been influenced by fears that, as a son of the soil, the gubernatorial gladiators may point accusing fingers at him depending on who wins or loses.
Recall that while in Anambra recently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, assured residents of adequate protection, saying that police operatives have no incentive to compromise because they have been given their allowances ahead of the special duty.
Ada Peter
