A coalition of accredited election observers has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its level of preparedness ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra.
The coalition gave the commendation at a press conference on Friday in Awka, while also urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest individuals involved in vote buying during the poll.
Mr. Augustine Okafor, Coordinator of the Grassroot Development Centre for Peace and Social Justice, who spoke on behalf of the group, said over 350 observers had been deployed across the state to monitor the process.
Okafor said the coalition had been assessing INEC’s readiness and that of key stakeholders, expressing satisfaction with the transparent distribution of non-sensitive materials by the Commission.
According to him, the process reflected INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election.
He also commended security agencies and the state government for restoring peace in areas previously affected by insecurity.
Okafor praised the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security for deploying over 60,000 personnel to ensure a peaceful exercise.
He appealed to political actors to respect the peace accord and maintain issue-based campaigns, while urging security agencies to enforce movement restrictions and maintain vigilance in identified flashpoints.
“The political atmosphere in the state remains largely peaceful, with no major incidents of thuggery or violence reported during campaigns,” he added.
Also speaking, Mr. Sarki Danjuma, Chairman of the Initiative for Promotion and Civic Obligation for Sustainable Peace, cautioned against vote buying and urged the EFCC to act decisively against offenders.
“The EFCC and security agencies should take firm action against vote-buying, which undermines democracy and erodes public confidence in the electoral process,” Danjuma said.
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to credible polls and adherence to the principle of “one man, one vote” as enshrined in Section 53(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
