The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Wednesday, met with stakeholders ahead of Saturday’s November 6th governorship elections in Anambra state.
The meeting which held at the Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka, attracted major key players in the election including the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, Supervising National Commissioner, Barrister Festus Okoye, top security agencies in the state and beyond including the Army and Navy, the civil society groups as well as leaders of different political parties.
Candidates of different political parties including the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – Professor Chukwuma Soludo, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – Mr Valentine Ozigbo, Zenith Labour Party candidate(ZLP), Dr Obiora Okonkwo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – Andy Ubah were also present at the meeting.
The meeting was aimed at brainstorming on the best approach to achieve a peaceful, free, fair and credible election. The INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu in his address maintained that the choice of the next governor of Anambra State is entirely in the hands of the Anambra eligible voters as the commission is well prepared to set a good record using Anambra governorship election.
He warned those that would attempt to compromise the election process to have a rethink noting that anyone caught in such act will be dealt with accordingly.
He further appealed to political parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns within the provisions of the law. The Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba pointed that the police and other security agencies are well aware of the threat by some elements to disrupt the election and assured of adequate security.
He maintained that the police has deployed over 34,000 of it’s personal which wll to secure the law abiding citizens which will be complemented by the military, civil defense and other security agencies urging Ndi Anambra to ensure they take part in the election without fear.
