Peaceful Atmosphere Marks Anambra Governorship Election
Anambra State witnessed a remarkably calm and peaceful environment on Saturday, November 8, as approximately 2.8 million eligible voters participated in the crucial governorship election that would determine the political future of the state. The atmosphere proved significantly more tranquil compared to the electoral experience four years prior, according to voters who spoke with journalists.
Massive Security Deployment Ensures Order
Security agencies mounted an extensive operation across the state to guarantee a smooth electoral process. Approximately 55,000 police officers were deployed alongside personnel from multiple security agencies including the Immigration Service, NDLEA, DSS, EFCC, and Civil Defence. Surveillance helicopters operated by the Police and Air Force officials had been hovering over the state since the previous Thursday as part of comprehensive security measures.
Major road junctions featured armored tanks and security vehicles manned by alert officers. The road leading to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office had been barricaded since Monday, with access restricted to only those with official business. The police repeatedly reassured the public of their commitment to safeguarding the electoral process throughout the election period.
INEC's Extensive Preparations
The Independent National Electoral Commission implemented elaborate arrangements for the election. INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan, who had been present in the state since the beginning of the week, confirmed that the poll would take place across 326 wards and 5,718 polling units, including 183 split polling units.
The commission deployed 6,879 active Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to verify voters, while 24,000 ad hoc personnel who had undergone specialized training were assigned election duties. A total of 2,802,790 registered voters across the state's 21 local government areas were expected to participate in determining which of the 16 candidates would become the next governor.
Campaign Intensity and Voter Enthusiasm
In the days leading to the election, Anambra State experienced unprecedented activity as political campaigns reached their climax. All major roads bustled with vehicular and human traffic as candidates made final efforts to sell their manifestoes and secure voter support. The commercial pace accelerated noticeably, with vehicles operating at unusual speeds and sirens blaring from various directions.
Local businesses, particularly hotel owners, recorded brisk sales with accommodations fully booked at specially increased rates designed for the election period. Food markets also witnessed heightened activity as residents made last-minute purchases before the voting commenced. Many eligible voters took advantage of the free work day authorized by the state government on Friday to travel to their various registration areas.
From Awka, the state capital, to the commercial hubs of Onitsha and Nnewi, numerous campaign billboards advertised the candidates and their political parties. Small gatherings of residents engaged in discussions about the potential advantages of each contestant, reflecting the democratic engagement of the electorate.
Comprehensive Candidate List and International Observation
INEC confirmed that 16 candidates from 16 political parties contested the governorship seat. The prominent contenders included Charles Onyese (Accord Party), Nicholas Ukachukwu (All Progressives Congress), Chukwuma Soludo (All Progressives Grand Alliance), George Moghalu (Labour Party), and Jude Ezenwafor (Peoples Democratic Party), among others.
The election attracted significant observation presence with approximately 115 domestic observers and seven foreign observer groups, including officials from the British High Commission, European Union, Canadian High Commission, Pan-African Women Projects, International Association of World Peace Advocates, and Nouvel Perspective Foreign Observer Group.
Despite the intense political activities and massive mobilization of security and electoral resources, Anambra State maintained its calm and peaceful disposition throughout the election day, marking a significant achievement in Nigeria's democratic process and setting a positive precedent for future elections in the region.
