No going back on Anambra 2021 governorship election despite threat, says INEC

Despite fresh threat by proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to disrupt the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will go on with the poll as scheduled.

The commission said it would move into the state next week for the final lap of preparations for the election.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, stated the commission’s stand at a special meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

Yakubu said: “INEC is determined to proceed with the Anambra State governorship election, as scheduled. The safety and protection of voters, our personnel, accredited observers, the media and materials are cardinal considerations in any election. We have been assured by the security agencies of a secure environment for the election.

“Members of ICCES may recall that three weeks ago, we held an emergency meeting to review preparations for the Anambra State governorship election. Since then, so much has been achieved and our preparations for the election have been going on unhindered.

“However, it is the tradition of ICCES to review preparations on the eve of every off-season governorship election where the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the Commissioner of Police of the state come to brief us on electoral and security preparations as a routine pre-election activity. It is, therefore, my pleasure to welcome the REC, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, and Commissioner of Police, Echeng E. Echeng, to this meeting.

“The 2021 Anambra State governorship election is holding in the next 12 days, on November 6, 2021. Our deployment of non-sensitive materials and training of personnel for the election have virtually been concluded. The commission has successfully accomplished 12 out of the 14 activities listed in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election released in January this year.

“The two outstanding activities are the last day of campaign, at midnight on Thursday, November 4, 2021, and Election Day, which remains Saturday, November 6, 2021. The REC for Anambra State is here to fully provide an update on the implementation of other activities and INEC’s general state of readiness for the election…

“I am sure Anambra State police commissioner, in his briefing, will provide more details regarding preparations on the ground. I wish to place on record the continued support of security agencies to the commission during elections.

“Particularly noteworthy is the high level of professional conduct of the agencies in the last two major elections in Edo and Ondo states. Indeed, Edo and Ondo have become the standard for securing elections in Nigeria.”

He added: “The professionalism and neutrality exhibited by the security agencies in the two elections have been widely praised nationally and internationally. We are confident that this will be replicated in Anambra State.

(Adopted from The Nation: Excluding headline)