Politics

‘Ensure every vote counts in Anambra election,’ Yakubu charges INEC staff

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday charged the commission’s staff deployed for election duties in Anambra to ensure that all the votes cast in the exercise count.

The Anambra governorship election holds on Saturday.

Yakubu, who addressed the staff in Awka, noted that the commission’s determination to ensure that the election holds as scheduled remained unshaken.

He said INEC has delivered all sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the state.

He said: “It is therefore imperative for all of you to ensure that every single vote counts.

“You must remain true to our commitment that only the voters in Anambra State determine who becomes the next governor of the state.

In doing so, you must be guided by the extant laws, our guidelines/regulations, and good conscience. You should remain vigilant, principled, and committed to the vision and mission of the commission.

“We also sought and obtained the support of the security agencies, political parties and candidates, and all other stakeholders for a successful exercise.

“As you are aware, Nigerians expect the Anambra governorship election to be an improvement on the high standards achieved in recent elections.

“That is why we introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for fingerprint and facial biometric authentication of voters. We have trained staff on the new technology.

Politics

More confusion as IPOB clarifies position on boycott of Anambra guber poll, sit-at-home

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a disclaimer over its stance on the upcoming governorship elections in Anambra State on Saturday, November 6.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, in response to claims that the group imposed a stay-at-home order tantamount to a boycott of the polls.

The group while claiming it did not call for boycott of the election, further reiterated it’s call for people in Anambra to observe the sit-at home between November 5 and November 10, while also calling on whoever wants to go out to vote on November 6 to be cautious of their security.

The IPOB statement reiterated that it did not call for the boycott of the election and has not asked anyone to impose the sit-at-home order.

According to Powerful, the group is only interested in securing the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

The statement reads, ”IPOB wish to correct some misconceptions, unfounded speculations and outright falsehood concerning our position on the forthcoming November 6 governorship election in Anambra state.

First of all, we wish to reiterate that IPOB did not at any time issue an order or call for the boycott of the said election contrary to misconceptions in certain quarters. IPOB has nothing to do with the Anambra election. Nobody should therefore link us with the election. The freedom of our Leader is what matters to us and we don’t need distractions.”

The statement continued, “The priority of IPOB is to secure the unconditional release of our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has been illegally detained since his rendition to Nigeria. All we said was that if by November 4 those who abducted, renditioned, and illegally detained him fail to release him unconditionally, Biafrans shall embark on civil disobedience of a one-week sit-at-home beginning from November 5 to November 10.

This action has nothing to do with the Anambra election. We are not concerned if anyone wishes to participate or not to participate in the Anambra election. But our only advice to Ndi Anambra especially those contemplating to vote is to be very careful about their security.

“We want to categorically state that IPOB has not asked anybody to monitor or enforce compliance to any sit-at-home as this is unnecessary because Biafrans willingly and consciously obey IPOB’s call for Sit-At-Home.”

Politics

All sensitive electoral materials for Anambra election in Awka – INEC

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Wednesday all sensitive materials for the Anambra State governorship election slated for the weekend are in Awka, the state capital.

Yakubu’s clarification addressed the previous announcement made by the INEC that sensitive materials for the election would be brought into the state from Imo State.

The INEC chief, who stated this during an interactive session with journalists in Awka, said the materials were in safe hands.

He added that the commission would on November 4 invite the candidates, the media, election monitors, and other stakeholders to witness the deployment of the materials to the 21 local government areas in the state.

Yakubu said: “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State has just briefed us on our detailed preparations for the election, including logistics and the recruitment, training, and deployment of election duty staff.

Non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

“The sensitive materials are secured in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch here in Awka. As is always the case on the eve of major elections, INEC will invite political parties, civil society organisations, and the media to the CBN tomorrow, Thursday, November 4, 2021, to inspect the sensitive materials and to witness their movement to the various Local Government Areas under security escort.

“By the same arrangement, the materials will be delivered to the Registration Areas or Wards on Friday, November 5, 2021, to facilitate the opening of Polling Units at 8:30 a.m. on Election Day i.e. Saturday, November 6, 2021.

I want to assure all voters in Anambra State that in designing the sensitive materials for the election, the commission has introduced additional visible and invisible security features, including different colour codes. Materials have also been customised by Local Government Areas and Polling Units.”

Politics

‘Behave yourself during Anambra election,’ Nigerian govt warns troublemakers

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The Federal Government on Monday threatened to deal decisively with criminal elements who are bent on scuttling next month’s governorship election in Anambra.

The National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), gave the warning during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja.

He assured that security agencies would do all within their power to ensure a hitch-free election in the state.

The NSA appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff not to be discouraged by the challenges they will face during the election but to give their best.

Monguno said: “For those of us in security, we have already done most of what we are supposed to do.

All the law enforcement agencies and security agencies 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, and self-restraint.

“We have been told to operate within the confines of the law, and not to go out 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, I 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 destabilise 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 for anyone to go out and ignite something that might cause pain for the good people of Anambra State — the peace-loving people — under whatever guise.

“Please, think again because the law enforcement agencies, inasmuch as we will 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 arson and even homicide.

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 embarking on an exercise of self delusion, futility or some form of tangle.

“Please, I am appealing to you, we are all brothers. Stay within your wards, your local government and let us have a peaceful election.

“For the security agencies in the wards, any rogue element that decides to behave in a manner that will tar our collective institutions in very dark colour 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 (INEC).

I know you have 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 drive you into a state of lethargy. Please continue to support the leadership of INEC and let us get this job done.”

Politics

Anambra election will be ‘embarrassingly’ transparent – INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday assured Nigerians that the November 6 governorship election in Anambra would be “embarrassingly transparent.”

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Nwachukwu Orji, stated this during a voter education and sensitisation programme for Persons With Disabilities and women groups in the state.

Orji, who was represented at the forum by INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Samuel Nimen, said all facilities had been put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the election.

He said: “The electoral materials that got burnt recently in an attack have been replaced. Non-sensitive materials have been distributed to all Local Government Areas and training of officials and ad-hoc staff is ongoing as I speak to you.

We have pasted and presented voters’ register to the political parties fielding candidates. We have published the final list of candidates and we have been engaging stakeholders to ensure security at polling units.

We have increased polling units to 5,720 to increase access to all voters and we are carrying out aggressive voter education and sensitisation, appealing to residents to exercise their civic responsibilities.

“With all facilities in place and with the electronic transmission of results, I tell you that Anambra election will be embarrassingly transparent. This will build confidence in our electoral system.

“PWDs are very important citizens, so we give them special attention by creating an inclusive environment.

“You need to participate fully in the electoral process because you are all citizens of Nigeria and have the right to vote and be voted for. I assure you that we are doing all we can to ensure your safety.”

Politics

Okowa predicts PDP victory in Anambra election

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The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, predicted the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

Okowa stated this when Ozigbo and some defectors from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra led by the party’s Youth Leader, Magnus Eziokwu, visited him in Asaba, the state capital.

He expressed the hope that what happened in Edo would be replicated in Anambra, adding that PDP stood a chance to win the election going by the preparations so far made by the party.

Okowa, who is the Deputy Chairman of PDP’s National Campaign Council for the Anambra election, described Ozigbo as ”humble and dynamic,” adding that he was the best of all the candidates in the election.

He urged the people of Anambra to vote massively for the PDP to turn things around in the state.

The governor said: “I welcome you and your entourage to Delta and to my office and I feel very happy within me because I can see that we have decided to tow the path of unity.

“When we are united, I am convinced we will come out victorious in the November 6 governorship election.

“I want to congratulate you ahead of time because I know that you are doing well.

There is no doubt that Anambra has always been a PDP state but unfortunately in the past 16 years, we have lost out in the politics of Anambra solely because of infighting.

“But from what I am hearing and what I can see now, I feel very encouraged that there is a new spirit now in the PDP in Anambra.”

He expressed happiness at the spirit of reconciliation and better commitment to the campaign and called for a more vigorous house-to-house rally ahead of the poll.

Okowa added: “The real politics is not the gathering of people on the field but the door-to-door campaign which is set out to convince people.

“I think that people have seen the other side of the coin at the moment they are waiting for the PDP and it is for us to rediscover ourselves or to decide to give away this chance but I am convinced that you will not allow that to happen.

We had an opportunity in Edo State and we took it and I believe it is a similar opportunity we have in Anambra and we may not have a better chance than now so we must take it back.”

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