Mary Onyia
Tensions are still very high in Anambra state as voters set to go to the polls on Saturday ,November 6, 2021, to choose who becomes the next governor of the state, amid very tight security.
According to official reports over 30,000 police have been deployed to Anambra, in a bid to douse any fears of violence as threatened by the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB ;an outlawed separatist movement that has been consistently blamed for a string of attacks on police and election offices, and boost the people’s confidence.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday commenced distribution of sensitive materials across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The materials deposited at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Awka the state capital,, included the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), ballot booklets, result sheets and other documentary materials for use at various polling units during the exercise.
Poll watchers believe the turnout and the organisation of the vote will determine public trust in Nigeria’s electoral commission as the 2023 presidential ballot looms.
There are three contenders in Saturday’s elections. They are: Andy Ubah of the ruling party the All Progressive Congress, APC, Val Ozigbo of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Charles Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA- a party that has governed Anambra for the past one and half decade.
One of the three frontrunners in Saturday’s governorship race, former Central Bank chief Charles Chukwuma Soludo, an economic professor, has remained dogged despite being a target for gunmen.
In March, assailants opened fire at a community meeting as he wrapped up a speech. A few months later, armed men on motorbikes hit one of his rally venues as he was campaigning elsewhere.
Analysts say that Saturday election in the troubled southeastern state will test the resolve of the electoral body in conducting a free and fair election and its state of preparedness in the forthcoming presidential election in the next one and half year.
INEC says it has done everything to ensure Anambra vote is fair and credible, acknowledging the ballot’s importance despite the complexities. That includes improvements in voter registration and the electronic transfer of results.
“It will test our determination and resolve to conduct elections in difficult circumstances,” INEC national commissioner Festus Okoye said.
IPOB has debunked every report that it planned to disrupt Saturday’s elections in Anambra State.
The group has denied involvement in attacks and claims it is not against the election. On Thursday it cancelled a one-week shutdown.
“The people of Anambra State should go out en masse and peacefully exercise their franchise,” IPOB said, through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
“Honesty and commitment of the electoral empire is key and… I have confidence,” Soludo told AFP. “2023, this is a precursor to it.”
On Thursday, candidates signed a peace accord to respect the results of Saturday’s ballot and to avoid violence.