Anambra: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on all political parties and their candidates in the upcoming Anambra Governorship Election to honour the spirit and letter of the Peace Accord they signed. Prof. Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the commission, emphasized the importance of this commitment following the signing of the peace accord by governorship candidates ahead of the Saturday, November 8, off-cycle governorship election in the state.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the signing of the peace accord was convened by the National Peace Committee (NPC) led by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. Amupitan urged the candidates to ensure that the message of non-violence and mutual respect is communicated to their supporters at all levels. He highlighted that similar engagements in other states like Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi, and Edo have led to peaceful election outcomes despite pre-election anxieties.
Amupitan reassured political parties and candidates of INEC’s commitment to carrying out its duties according to the law, global best practices, and the principles enshrined in the peace accord. He emphasized that genuine commitment, rather than mere signatures, is essential for peace, as disruptions could undermine the election process’s credibility. He urged stakeholders to demonstrate dedication to non-violence and unity, sending a strong message that democracy thrives with peace.
He further noted that the stakeholders’ role in the electoral process is crucial and urged them to ensure the election is marked by unity and common goals rather than division. INEC has taken steps to address operational challenges, engaging officials, transport providers, and security agencies to ensure a smooth election across 5,718 Polling Units, 326 Ward Collation Centres, 21 Local Government Collation Centres, and the State Collation Centre in Awka.
Amupitan assured voters of improved logistics and result management processes on election day. He disclosed that INEC approved a final register of 2,802,790 eligible voters and extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Sunday, November 2. He warned that any attempts to subvert the election would be met with legal action, as robust security measures have been instituted by the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
The Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will deploy 10,250 officers, alongside other agencies. Amupitan expressed confidence in a peaceful and successful election in Anambra, thanks to the peace accord, security agencies’ efforts, and contributions from traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, civil society, the media, and other stakeholders.