Nigeria: Yiaga Raises Concerns ahead Anambra Poll

As the 2021 Anambra State governorship election approaches, Yiaga Africa has raised concerns over the security situation and low level of voter education in the state.

Based on the schedule of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the election, registered voters in the state are expected to go to the polls on 06 November.

However, a cloud of uncertainty hovers around what the election portends following reports of attacks on politicians, harmless and unarmed citizens and police officials by secessionist groups/supporters or armed assailants.

Gunmen have also attacked the State Security Service (SSS) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nnewi, a town in the state.

In its third pre-election observation report, titled, Threats and Acts of Violence Impedes Voter Education and Voter Mobilisation, Yiaga Africa questioned the ability of security agencies to guarantee the safety of lives and property.

The election observer pointed different indicators of growing insecurity dimension that poses anxiety and palpable fear across the 21 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.

The report, which covers the 21 LGAs, reflects the findings between 23 September and 07 October, 2021, according to the non-governmental organisation (NGO).

‘The incessant insecurity issues bedeviling the state continue to pose serious concerns with respect to the conduct of the election’, the report read.

‘The insecurity in the state may be related to the activities of the secessionist agitators, in addition to political attacks and the intersecting criminality observed in the pre-election phase’.

INEC had on 05 October, 2021, expressed fear over the upsurge in cases of attacks in the state.

In his address at an emergency meeting with heads of security operatives in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said the growing rate of attacks in the state may affect the commission’s plan for the election.

Nevertheless, Yakubu expressed the commission’s wish to proceed with its preparation for the election but not at the detriment of the security of about 26,000 of its officials, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and university students.

‘While the security agencies have consistently assured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the people of Anambra State and Nigerians that they will provide adequate security for the election, there still remains a major lapse in the management of the insecurity in the state’, the Yiaga Africa report noted.

‘Yiaga Africa has also observed heavy deployments of more security personnel and equipment to Anambra in recent weeks, while this is intended to assuage citizens and build confidence ahead of the elections, we expect more coordinated and professional engagements in a manner that will encourage and not discourage participation’.

Yiaga Africa called on INEC to coordinate with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on measures to forestall incidences of violence to ensure the safety and security of voters and poll officials.

The NGO also urged security agencies to deploy intelligence and be more intentional in addressing the violence of physical attacks and oppression by secessionist groups/supporters or armed assailants.

With regard to voter mobilisation, Yiaga Africa urged civil society organisations (CSOs) to intensify targeted voter information to inspire voter confidence and voter turnout during the election especially for women, youths and persons with disability.

Photo source: Nwabu2010

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

About the Author