The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC alongside security agencies have met and reviewed preparations to conduct the Anambra State gubernatorial elections.

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The Chairman of INEC, Yakubu Mahmood announced that,
“We have been assured by the security agencies of a secure environment for the election. I am sure the CP Anambra State 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.

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Mahmood said this at Special Meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on Anambra Governorship election at the Commission’s headquarters in, Abuja noting that Members of ICCES may recall that three weeks ago, the Commission held an emergency meeting to review preparations for the Anambra State Governorship election.

He said since then, so much has been achieved and its preparations for the election have been going on unhindered, adding that 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 the Commission on electoral and security preparations as a routine pre-election activity

Yakubu has also urged the Anambra people to conduct themselves properly in the November 6, 2021 Governorship election saying the choice of electing the next Governor lies in their hands.

The INEC boss also congratulated the news sworn-in National Commissioners of the Commission advising them to remain committed and dedicated to their duties as work INEC is done earnestly with all sense of vigor.

According to him: ” I wish to register the profound gratitude of the Commission for the support we have received from religious, traditional and community leaders for peaceful elections.

The Commission is also working with the National Peace Committee under the leadership of our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR, to bring all political parties and candidates for the Anambra State Governorship election to commit to peace before, during, and after the elections.

We appreciate this wide-ranging support and I wish to reassure the registered voters in Anambra State that the choice of the next Governor lies in their hands. I urge all and sundry to play their part in ensuring a free, fair, credible and peaceful governorship election in Anambra State.

“Would like to warmly welcome members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to this meeting. As some of you are probably aware, two INEC National Commissioners were sworn in this afternoon by the President.

“Let me, therefore, welcome to the Commission, and introduce to ICCES, Kunle Cornelius Ajayi, a Professor of Political Science at the Ekiti State University, and Muhammad Sani Kallah, a retired Professor of Ecology and Range Management at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as the new National Commissioners representing the South West and North West geo-political zones respectively.

“As the new National Commissioners can see, work in INEC begins in earnest. You have joined the Commission on the eve of a major election and your first activity is this ICCES meeting. Next week, we will move to the field in Anambra State. You are welcome to INEC”, he said.

Yakubu noted that the Commission has successfully completed 12 tasks out of 14 except 2 which are meant for the election day, stressing that INEC is determined and fully prepared to proceed with the Anambra Governorship election. He said the Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner is with the commission to brief it of preparations as it is customary of the process before any election.

“The 2021 Anambra State Governorship election is held in the next 12 days on 6th November 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 the campaign, at midnight on Thursday 4th November 2021, and Election Day which remains Saturday 6th November 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.

“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. I am sure the CP Anambra State 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. 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”.

The Commission however said it wishes to register the profound gratitude of the Commission for the support they have received from religious, traditional, and community leaders for peaceful elections.

“The Commission is also working with the National Peace Committee under the leadership of our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR, to bring all political parties and candidates for the Anambra State Governorship election to commit to peace before, during, and after the elections.

“We appreciate this wide-ranging support and I wish to reassure the registered voters in Anambra State that the choice of the next Governor lies in their hands. I urge all and sundry to play their part in ensuring a free, fair, credible, and peaceful Governorship election in Anambra State”, he said.

Responding to the Co-Chair of ICCES, Babagana Monguno in his remarks said no act of lawlessness will be accepted cautioning elements within Anambra not to do anything that will harm the process. He said no security agents or officers will be exempted from being penalized once it is established that anyone is found flouting the law.

He said: ” This will not be accepted. Law enforcement agencies have been asked to watch out for such elements because what you start, you don’t know how it will end.

There is no need to embark on an exercise of self-delusion, futility, or some form of a tangle. Please, I’m appealing to your will all brothers, stay within your wards your local government and let us have a peaceful election for the security agencies in ward, any rogue element that decides to behave in a manner that will tie our collective institutions in a very dark color will be brought to justice in accordance with the rules of those institutions.

“Do not do anything that will harm this process. Finally, I want to encourage agents of the Independent National Electoral Commission, I know you’ve gone through a lot of pain, a lot of losses with your colleagues from the Nigeria police force and other agencies do not allow what has happened in the past to dampen your spirits do not allow it to dry you in into a state of lethargy. Please continue to support the leadership of INEC and let us get this job that would have this job done. I wish you fruitful deliberations.

“We all know how important this exercise is not only for those of us who are supposed to ensure hitch-free exercise but for the people who are expected to vote. This is what we know to be the greatest optimization of what every citizen should aspire to. It is the number one legitimate expectation and right of every citizen and we must not deny anybody that right to exercise his civic duty, not just to exercise it, but to exercise it in an atmosphere devoid of rancor devoid of apprehension, tension, and all those factors that lead to suspicion and people ending up in courts or even into violence”, he stated.

He, however, appeals to security agencies to be alive to their duties saying their efforts in Edo and Ondo is a testament to what is expected noting that they can do better in Anambra State considering the volatile situation. He charged them further to exhibit the highest level of professionalism as all eyes are on the governorship election. He said his concern is that outcome of the poll will be appreciated by everyone in the state.

“This is what we need to avoid, just like the Chairman said, the two elections that were held, Edo and Ondo. We need to do even better than that, in order to really earn confidence in society. Now, for those of us in security, we have already done most of what we’re supposed to do. All the law enforcement agencies, security agencies, etc, have been charged to conduct themselves in a manner that will command the general widespread respect of all the people of Anambra state and by extension, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“They have been asked, charged to exhibit the highest level of professionalism, patience, perseverance, as well as self-restraint. We have been told to operate within the confines of the law, and not to go out on and exhibit tendencies that would jeopardize this exercise. I want to reassure the general public that the security agencies are going to do everything within their power to ensure that the people of Anambra State undergo this exercise without any incident.

In the same vein of want to offer a word of brotherly advice to our brothers and sisters in Anambra State who may want to use means, methods that are unorthodox and that are unusual to destabilize, an already delicate situation to please think again.

“We are all eager to achieve results in this election that will be acceptable to everybody. I don’t think it will be helpful to anyone to go out and ignite something that might cause pain for the people of Anambra State, the good people of Anambra State the peace-loving people, under whatever disguise, please think, again, because the law enforcement agencies in as much as us to operate in accordance with the requirements of their profession will not sit by idly and allow people to start looting, destroying public property, and resorting to not just intimidation, terrorizing people, possibly Asian and even homicide”, he noted.

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