Police ban political rallies in Imo

21.02.2008

The Commissioner of Police for Imo State, Mr Donald Iroham, on Wednesday in Owerri, clamped an indefinite ban on all political rallies in the state.
Iroham told journalists that the measure was to guard against overheating the polity as the Election Petitions Tribunal got ready to deliver judgments.

“We want to send a note of warning that on no account must any person or group of persons gather people together to hold any rally, especially political rallies.

“We don't want that because of the situation. We don't want to raise the temperature in the polity by holding a rally that could be partisan.

“Some jobless people are looking for the slightest opportunity to cause mayhem in the state,” he said.

He also said the police had uncovered a plan by some people to hold a rally that has not got clearance from the police, advising parents and guardians not to allow their children or wards to take part in any rally that did not receive clearance from the police.

``The rally is not in the best security interest of the state for now,” he said.