4 Commissioners Of Police Deployed To Anambra In 2021 Alone –Group

An election monitoring group, under the auspices of Yiaga Africa has decried the high level of security personnel deployment to Anambra State ahead of the forthcoming election slated for November 6, 2021.

According to the Observer group, within a space of three months, the state has had 3 different Commissioners of Police, with the most recent resuming in October 2021.

 

Yiaga also noted that with the November 6th, 2021 Anambra governorship election fast approaching, the incessant insecurity issues bedevilling the state continues to pose serious concerns with respect to the conduct of the election.

 

It linked the insecurity in the state to the activities of the secessionist agitators, in addition to political attacks and the intersecting criminality observed in the pre-election phase.

 

The group also raised concerns on the ability of the security agencies to guarantee the safety of lives and properties in the state, despite repeated assurances from them.

 

“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.

 

 

“Yiaga Africa has 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.

 

“Beyond the security challenges in the state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is consolidating its preparatory activities towards the conduct of the elections”.

 

“The Commission convened a meeting with the 18 recognised political parties that are taking part in the forthcoming gubernatorial election on Thursday, 7th October 2021.

 

“The meeting was held at the Commission’s headquarters in Awka, to provide updates on the election preparatory activities and issue electronic copies of the voter’s registers to the political parties in line with its timetable and schedule of activities.

 

“At the meeting, the Commission put the total number of voters registered in the state at 2, 525, 471. The resident electoral commissioner stated that the commission had registered 138, 802 in the CVR exercise in the state, although it has removed 62, 698 registration details for double/duplicate registrations,” a statement by the group noted.