As the November 6th Anambra Governorship election draws near, there are palpable security concerns amongst critical elections stakeholders due to the ongoing security challenges currently ravaging the state.
This is basically mainly due to the activities of the secessionist group, Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), and other unknown gunmen in Anambra state and environs which may affect the conduct of the election. The attacks on high-profile citizens and government establishments including the weekly Sit-at-home order by IPOB have continued to affect plans for the November 6th polls.
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The gruesome murder of Dr. Chike Akunyili, the killing of a deposed Traditional leader, of Mkpunando community in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area, Alexander Edozieuno, setting ablaze Ajali Police Station, in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State and killing five policemen, are just a few out of the many critical incidents recorded in the last couple of weeks.
As a matter of fact, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had reportedly requested at least 24,000 security personnel to protect its 26,000 staff and materials ahead of the polls which are a little over one month away.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC) Dr. Nwachukwu Orji, made the request during a one-day sensitization workshop on political broadcast organised by the National Broadcasting Commission in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
Before then, the REC commission had complained about the challenges faced by the commission which includes attacks on their offices and weekly Sit-at-home orders. Speaking to Journalists after an election monitoring and support center (EMSC) amber zone implementers’ workshop in Anambra, the REC said: “We are doing our best to ensure that we overcome these challenges, and we can only urge the public to be law-abiding in order to achieve the desired electoral success in the state.”
On its own part, a Civil Society Organisation who are currently observing the Pre-Election environment in the state, Yiaga Africa also raised concerns about the activities of the secessionist group, saying they remain a major threat to the election.
According to Yiaga Africa, a major early warning sign and indicator of violence is the violent enforcement of sit-at-home orders by the secessionist group. As contained in its second pre-election observation report, the CSO said: “The sit-at-home order by the group which usually takes place every Monday, within this reporting period the sit-at-home order also extends to Tuesday, September 14th and Friday, September 17th 2021 which was observed by citizen observers throughout the 21 LGAs of Anambra State.”
It said, the activities of the secessionist also lead to violence as they ensure citizens compliance to the sit-at-home order in LGAs that lead to the destruction of properties and intimidation and harassment of innocent citizens.
Political parties and campaigns have not been spared either as Senator Andy Uba, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, shifted his campaign flag-off at Onitsha on Saturday following the upsurge in violent attacks and killings in parts of the state.
Uba said the postponement was in sympathy with the families of those killed and wounded. He said: “Like every other well-meaning member of the public, I have followed with sadness and grief the recent, unfortunate and mindless spate of violence and insecurity in Anambra state.
In this vein, stakeholders have continued to call for peaceful polls in Anambra. For instance, Yiaga Africa called on the Federal and State governments to as a matter of urgency deploy intelligence in resolving the unstable security situation in Anambra and other states in the South-East which have a negative impact on the economy, peace and security of lives and property.
The CSO said, due to the agitation of the secessionist group and the threat to safety and security in the election, it urges federal and state government security agencies to be non-partisan before, during and after the governorship election in the state.
