The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has promised to deliver a peaceful and credible governorship election in Anambra State.
Speaking on Tuesday, at the Commission’s State headquarters in Akwa, Prof. Yakubu said INEC and other stakeholders are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring a successful poll on Saturday.
The INEC chairman made the declaration in Anambra State during the Inter-Agency Consultative Forum ahead of the November 6 governorship election.
He assured that security agents are fully on ground to ensure an orderly process and prevent the breakdown of law and order before, during, and after the governorship election.
The INEC chairman explained also that due to the new technology in place for the election, all the new registrants in Anambra had been contacted on how to collect their voter’s cards.
“This is to assure people of Anambra State that the election is going to be free, fair, and credible,” he said.
Yakubu added that a stakeholders meeting involving security agencies, chairmen of political parties, governorship candidates, members of the Civil Society Groups, traditional rulers, religious leaders, the media and other stakeholders will be conveyed and a peace accord for the election will be signed.
Also speaking at the Inter-Agency Consultative Forum, the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Echeng Echeng, announced that all boundaries linking Anambra State with other neighbouring states would be totally locked down as from Thursday night.
This he said is part of efforts to curb any unauthorized movement including that of criminals who may want to scuttle the polls.
He highlighted that about 125 anti-riot policemen will be dispatched to each of the 21 local government areas of the state while other security agencies including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, Navy, officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and those of the Federal Road Safety Corps will also be on ground for security and safety.
“There is enough security to protect live and property across the state. It is not going to be a tea party for trouble makers. Of course, their camps have been identified and operations are ongoing. We will be on ground to make sure they don’t have access to come out,” he said.
