BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – With less than 24 hours to Saturday, November 8 governorship election in Anambra, Yiaga Africa says there are security concerns to be addressed for a smooth and hitch-free election in the state.
Executive Director of Samson Itodo, who raised the alarm, said insecurity remains a major challenge, particularly in the riverine and high-risk areas of the South East State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s interview programme, Politics Today, Itodo said, “The second biggest issue [ahead of the election] relates to insecurity in some hot spots and riverine areas. If security agencies don’t provide protection for INEC officials and materials, deployment will be difficult.”
He urged security operatives to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure safe and smooth conduct of the exercise.
“We hope the security agencies cooperate with INEC and provide the necessary security. So far, everything seems peaceful, and the state is primed for voting,” he added.
On likely turnout of voters, Itodo said the perceived challenges notwithstanding, there is optimism that things would improve compared to the 2021 election.
“We hope for a high turnout because, in 2021, the state only recorded about 20.1 per cent, which was abysmally low,” he volunteered.
While commending INEC’s new leadership for the readiness so far demonstrated, the YIAGA chief expressed confidence that the Electoral umpire would ensure the poll commences promptly.
He said, “With the assurances from the new INEC chairman, we hope the Commission breaks the jinx of late commencement of the polls.”
We’re Ready – Police Assure Of Public Safety
Amid concerns of insecurity raised in some quarters, the Commissioner of Police for election duty in the State, Abayomi Shogunle, said voters should be assured of full security coverage across both land and riverine communities.
Shogunle made the pledge on Thursday when INEC officials arrived at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Head office in Awka, the State capital, to pick sensitive election materials for distribution across the State.
On ground to supervise the process, witnessed by party agents, observers and journalists, was the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Queen Agwu.
However, available reports indicated that though the officials arrived later than the scheduled time of 10 a.m, the collection exercise was smooth and hitch-free.
Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial poll, INEC has confirmed that 2,802,790 registered voters are scheduled to cast their ballots across 5,718 polling units in 21 local government areas of Anambra State.
