A coalition of accredited election observers has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its preparedness ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra.
The coalition gave the commendation at a press conference on Friday in Awka.
It also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest individuals involved in vote buying during the election.
Mr. Augustine Okafor, Coordinator of the Grassroots Development Centre for Peace and Social Justice, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said that over 350 observers had been deployed across the state.
Okafor said they have been assessing INEC’s preparedness and the readiness of key stakeholders.
He expressed satisfaction with the distribution of non-sensitive materials by INEC.
According to him, the exercise was conducted transparently and reflected the Commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election.
Okafor lauded the efforts of security agencies and the state government in restoring security in areas previously under criminal control.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police (I-G P), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security for deploying more than 60,000 security personnel to ensure a peaceful exercise.
“Political actors should respect the peace accord and maintain issue-based engagement.
“They must demonstrate maturity, tolerance, and discipline throughout the process.
“We also urge security agencies to enforce movement restrictions on election day and intensify clearance operations in identified flashpoints to prevent any security breaches.
“The political atmosphere in the state remains largely peaceful, with no major incidents of thuggery or violence reported during campaigns,”he said.
Also speaking, Mr. Sarki Danjuma, Chairman of the Initiative for Promotion and Civic Obligation for Sustainable Peace, cautioned against vote buying.
Danjuma urged the EFCC to take decisive action against perpetrators.
“The EFCC and security agencies should fight against vote-buying, which undermines democracy and erodes public confidence in the process,”he said.
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to credible polls and the principle of ‘one man, one vote’ as enshrined in Section 53(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
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