Anambra: Yiaga Africa Identifies Three Trends That May Affect Election

Yiaga Africa, an independent election observer group said it identified three emerging trends that were likely to impact the conduct of the election in course of its monitoring of the Anambra governorship pre-election activities.

Yiaga Africa made the call while presenting its pre-election observations at a news conference in Awka on Friday.

Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, member of Yiaga Board of Directors who spoke for the group said the trendsincluded election preparatory activities by stakeholders, election violence or threats of violence and violations of the electoral code of conduct.

Yiaga said the voter information campaigns were conducted in 14 of the 21 local government areas of Anambra with special interest in the marginalised population Including women, youths, and persons with disabilities.

It decried the attacks on political campaigns but concluded that the people of Anambra were eager to have the election on the scheduled date.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission should ensure a more consistent and harmonious coordination within the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

“This will be a measure to forestall incidents of violence and ensure the safety of voters and poll officials,” he said.

Yiaga Africa also called on security agencies to ensure public confidence to enable the electorate to participate optimally in the Nov. 6 governorship election in Anambra.

It said the security agencies should partner with civil society organisations to promote activities and initiatives that will increase citizens’ confidence and encourage participation in the election.

“Security agencies should ensure that their personnel are adequately trained on election security before they are deployed for the election.

“Security agencies should deploy monitoring mechanisms to checkmate and curtail personnel excesses,” he said.

Yiaga said political parties and citizens also had their roles to play by promoting peaceful elections and ensuring they collected their permanent voter cards and casting their votes

It said citizens should get involved in getting out to raise awareness about the polls as election was a civic right which they should not deny themselves urging them to refrain from any form of physical and verbal attacks.

“Political party leaders, candidates and supporters should refrain from manipulating the insecurity in the state by creating mayhem and politically related attacks/crises.

“Voting in elections is the legitimate means of making citizens’ voices heard and of recruiting desirable leaders” Nwagwu said.