…Says Security Concerns Could Lead To Low Voters Turnout
The deployment of a large number of security officers to Anambra State ahead of the next election on November 6, 2021 has been criticized by an election monitoring group under the auspices of Yiaga Africa.
Since February 2021, the state has had four Commissioners of Police, according to the report.
According to the Observer organization, the state has had three different Commissioners of Police in three months, with the most recent resuming in October 2021.
Yiaga further stated that, with the governorship election in Anambra scheduled for November 6, 2021, the state’s ongoing insecurity issues continue to raise major worries about the election’s conduct.
It linked the state’s instability to secessionist agitators’ actions, as well as political attacks and overlapping criminality seen in the run-up to the election.
Despite repeated assurances from security services, the group expressed reservations about their ability to ensure the safety of people and property in the state.
“While the security agencies have consistently assured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the people of Anambra state and Nigerians that they will provide adequate security for the election, there still remains a major lapse in the management of the insecurity in the state.
“Yiaga Africa has observed heavy deployments of more security personnel and equipment to Anambra in recent weeks, while this is intended to assuage citizens and build confidence ahead of the elections, we expect more coordinated and professional engagements in a manner that will encourage and not discourage participation.
“Beyond the security challenges in the state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is consolidating its preparatory activities towards the conduct of the elections”.
“The Commission convened a meeting with the 18 recognised political parties that are taking part in the forthcoming gubernatorial election on Thursday, 7th October 2021.
“The meeting was held at the Commission’s headquarters in Awka, to provide updates on the election preparatory activities and issue electronic copies of the voter’s registers to the political parties in line with its timetable and schedule of activities.
“At the meeting, the Commission put the total number of voters registered in the state at 2, 525, 471. The resident electoral commissioner stated that the commission had registered 138, 802 in the CVR exercise in the state, although it has removed 62, 698 registration details for double/duplicate registrations,” a statement by the group noted.
