…”four National Commissioners are currently in Anambra to personally supervise the governorship election”
ANAMBRA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | No fewer than 2.8 million eligible voters across Anambra State will, today, decide who leads the state for the next four years.
The governorship poll marks the first major election to be conducted under the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, who assumed office on October 23.
Observers say the exercise will serve as a litmus test for INEC’s commitment to credible polls and its resolve to uphold ongoing electoral reforms.
According to INEC, a total of 2,802,790 registered voters are expected to participate in the election, including 140,370 newly registered voters spread across the state’s 326 wards.
With about 98.8 per cent of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected, candidates of the major political parties are set for a fierce contest to unseat the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who is seeking re-election.
Those vying for the top seat include Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP), John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Sir Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 16 political parties are participating in the governorship race, including two female candidates.
The Commission also confirmed that all 5,718 polling units across the state will open by 8:30 a.m., with 6,879 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices configured and backed up, and more than 24,000 trained ad hoc personnel deployed for the exercise.
INEC Distributes Election Materials Across Anambra
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday began the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all local government areas of Anambra State.
The exercise, which took place at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Awka, was supervised by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Queen Awgu, under tight security.
Dr. Awgu said essential materials such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Forms EC8A, and Forms EC8B were being moved to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) ahead of Saturday’s poll.
“The goal is to ensure that the election begins on schedule. That’s the only way the process can proceed smoothly without delays,” she stated.
The REC also appealed to residents to turn out en masse and participate in the election, urging them not to stay home out of apathy or assumptions that their votes would not count.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command on Friday announced a total restriction of vehicular movement into and out of the state throughout the election period.
Police Announce Movement Restriction Ahead of Anambra Poll
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the restriction on vehicular movement would take effect from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day.
Ikenga explained that the restriction covers all forms of motorised transportation, noting that the measure is aimed at ensuring a peaceful and hitch-free exercise.
According to a statement issued by the command, “The decision is intended to prevent the movement of political thugs and other criminal elements who may attempt to disrupt the electoral process.”
He advised interstate travellers planning to pass through Anambra to use alternative routes during the restriction period.
Ikenga added that only persons on essential duties—including designated INEC officials, accredited journalists, election observers, medical workers, emergency responders, and other essential service providers—would be exempted.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said during a press briefing in Abuja that four National Commissioners are currently in Anambra to personally supervise the governorship election, supported by 10 Resident Electoral Commissioners drawn from across the country.
Tight Security as Anambra Votes
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, assured voters in the six registration areas of Ihiala Local Government Area facing security concerns that they would cast their ballots safely at the council secretariat under the protection of security agencies.
“Anyone caught engaging in violence, vote-buying, intimidation, or tampering with the ballot will face immediate and lawful consequences,” Amupitan warned.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Abayomi Shogunle, announced that the number of security personnel deployed for the poll had been increased from 45,000 to 55,000 to ensure comprehensive coverage across the state.
According to Shogunle, the reinforcement is aimed at guaranteeing the safety of voters, electoral officials, and materials throughout the process.
Security Operatives Barricade INEC Office
Meanwhile, heavy security presence was observed around the INEC State Headquarters in Awka ahead of today’s election.
By Friday morning, hundreds of security operatives had taken positions within and around the premises, while armoured personnel carriers (APCs) were stationed at strategic points across Ekwueme Square, where the INEC office is located.
Tight Security as Materials Move, Situation Rooms Open Across Anambra
Security personnel on Friday restricted vehicular movement around Ekwueme Square in Awka, forcing motorists and pedestrians to park and walk across the area to reach their destinations.
The measure was linked to the movement of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials and the deployment of electoral officials, including ad hoc staff, ahead of today’s governorship poll.
Police Deploy DIG as Monitoring Groups Set Up Situation Rooms
Meanwhile, several election monitoring groups have established situation rooms in Anambra State to track developments during the election.
These include the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa). The CTA said it has deployed 50 trained observers to send in real-time field reports, while CDD-West Africa confirmed that 178 observers have been accredited to monitor activities across the state’s 21 local government areas.
In addition, the Nigeria Police Force has deployed the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Benjamin Okolo, to supervise all security personnel involved in the election. The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, will head the command’s situation room in Awka.
APGA, APC Trade Words Over Conduct of Poll
The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra, Okelo Madukaife, expressed confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct a credible election but raised concerns about possible security lapses.
Madukaife urged INEC to adhere strictly to the rules and cautioned security agencies against intimidating or harassing voters.
He also warned against the involvement of non-state actors in election security, recalling their alleged role in the Anambra South senatorial by-election in August, where, according to him, “the incumbent governor deployed unrecognised groups to intimidate voters, engage in vote buying, and disrupt the process.”
“The APC has fully complied with the law, and our campaign has remained strictly issue-based. As a party, we are fully prepared for the election. Our only concern is that the governor must not deploy non-state actors to intimidate or harass voters.”
