Barely sixteen days after taking charge, the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, faces his first major challenge as Anambra State goes to the polls tomorrow for its governorship election.
Amupitan, who pledged to deliver elections that truly reflect the will of Nigerians, assured citizens that the commission is “fully prepared to deliver a credible, transparent, and peaceful election.”
The INEC boss revealed that 24,000 officials will be deployed across 5,720 polling units in the state’s 21 local government areas, supported by 60,000 security personnel drawn from the police, army, air force, and paramilitary agencies. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun have warned that authorities will act firmly against anyone attempting to disrupt the process.
Meanwhile, the European Union has deployed 687 observers under its EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme — one of the largest civil society observer missions ever recorded for a state election in Nigeria. Programme Manager Laolu Olawumi said the move reflects the EU’s commitment to credible and inclusive polls, with observers focusing on election integrity, gender participation, misinformation, and logistics.
Former governor Peter Obi also called for a credible election while condemning vote-buying. “Let everyone vote according to their conscience. All I want is a free, fair, and credible election,” he said, while reaffirming support for his Labour Party candidate, Dr George Moghalu.
However, YIAGA Africa warned of possible security threats in six council areas — Orumba North, Orumba South, Ogbaru, Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Aguata — and raised concerns about voter apathy that could push turnout below 20 percent.
In a show of civic encouragement, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has declared Friday a work-free day for civil servants to enable them to travel and vote in today’s crucial election.
