Introduction to Anambra Governorship Election
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic process have renewed their commitment to ensuring a peaceful governorship election in Anambra. They said the commitment would be achieved through collaboration among civil society groups, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Commitment to Peaceful Election
They made the pledge in Abuja at a dialogue organised by the Nigeria Situation Room, a coalition of more than 100 civil society organisations. Convener of the group, Mr Yunusa Ya’u, said the meeting aimed to “build a common understanding of the situation in the state and generate ideas on how elections can be conducted that would be free, fair, and acceptable to citizens”. Ya’u expressed optimism that ongoing engagements among stakeholders would yield positive outcomes.
Groundwork for a Secure Atmosphere
Ya’u noted that significant groundwork had been laid to guarantee a secure atmosphere for voters. “A lot of preparation and commitment have gone into ensuring that citizens can come out freely to cast their votes without intimidation. While we can’t be 100 per cent sure that violence won’t occur, we are confident that our collective efforts will deliver a free and peaceful election,” he added.
Electoral Reforms and Preparations
Ya’u said ongoing engagements with the National Assembly Committees on Electoral Matters were aimed at achieving a repeal and reenactment of a new electoral act to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic framework. “There is no shortage of commitment in civil society to support electoral reforms and better elections for Nigeria. We all recognise that the 2027 elections will be crucial, and we are determined to contribute ideas and solutions that will move the process forward,” he said.
Security Arrangements
Speaking on security arrangements, Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, outlined detailed plans to safeguard the electoral process. Represented by ACP Gius Ekuri, Orutugu said security agencies including the Police, DSS, Civil Defence, Immigration and Road Safety Corps would be fully deployed across the state. “From midnight before the election, all entry routes into Anambra will be closed. Only officials on election duty will be allowed movement, and anyone attempting to infiltrate the state will be stopped,” he said.
INEC’s Readiness
Assuring stakeholders of INEC’s readiness, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Queen Agwu, said the commission had completed training for all personnel and partner agencies. She said ad hoc staff training for the 21 local government areas would hold on Oct. 16, while civil society organisations had been deployed to sensitise residents ahead of the election. On the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Agwu said 978 backup devices had been reserved and distributed across wards and local governments.
International Support
Representing the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Dr Matthew Ayibakuro commended the collaboration between civil society and security agencies, describing it as “a strong model for transparent and inclusive elections”. “It’s encouraging to see that things have changed since 2021. The police and mediation committees are now engaging with stakeholders to promote peace and dialogue. From the FCDO’s perspective, we’ll continue to support these efforts to ensure a credible process in Anambra State,” he said.
Conclusion
The dialogue also featured representatives from PLAC, Cleen Foundation, ActionAid, INEC and other civil society organisations, with discussions focusing on electoral reforms and preparations for the 2027 general elections. The commitment to a peaceful and credible election in Anambra is a positive step towards strengthening Nigeria’s democratic framework.
FAQs
Q: What is the Nigeria Situation Room?
A: The Nigeria Situation Room is a coalition of more than 100 civil society organisations.
Q: What is the main goal of the stakeholders in Anambra?
A: The main goal is to ensure a peaceful governorship election in Anambra.
Q: What is the role of security agencies in the election?
A: Security agencies will be fully deployed across the state to safeguard the electoral process.
Q: What is the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)?
A: The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is a system used for voter accreditation, and 978 backup devices have been reserved and distributed across wards and local governments.
Q: What is the expected outcome of the election?
A: The expected outcome is a free and peaceful election that is acceptable to citizens.
