We're now better informed of our roles in making Anambra 2025 poll credible- stakeholders

 

By Okechukwu Onuegbu 

Stakeholders in Anambra State have assured of their readiness in contributing towards making the November 8 Anambra State governorship credible and fair having been adequately engaged with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD- West Africa).

The stakeholders made this known at Awka, Anambra State capital, during an engagement and sensitisation workshop on mandate protection and electoral integrity ahead of the poll, an event attended by the religious leaders, PWDs, civil society members, media, community and market leaders, NYSC, transporters, among others.

They said the programme had reawakened their consciousness and armed them with necessary knowledge to engage further with others at the grassroots towards ensuring that their votes count without records of violence, vote buying and selling, and other electoral offences.

 

 Speaking at the workshop, Hon. Mrs Virginia Nkechi Okeke, the Chairperson, Market Women Organisation, Anambra State chapter, said they were battled ready to engage with market women and others across 179 communities so as to make them participate effectively during the poll.

Also speaking, the State Secretary, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Hon. Uzochukwu Eminent, expressed confidence that if political parties and politicians would play their roles which included voters education without blame games, votes would count and credible leader would be elected.

To Comrade Mathias Ameke, the State Chairman of Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Comrade Chioma Ifemeludike, engaging well with the electorate at the grassroots would contribute effectively in protecting the people mandate often stolen by politicians. 

"The mandate actually belonged to the commoners in the village. We have seen the reason to be concerned about how to protect this mandate. They are yearning for a good leadership. We are seeing the anger and frustrations in the land for denying them their rights. We must encourage them to know their rights and how to protect their mandates," Ifemeludike stated.

Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Society and Civil Defence (NCDC), Mr Victor Obunne, urged the parents and parties to sensitise their wards and members to refrain from engaging in electoral offences, including vote buying and selling, as well as support the security in stopping break down of laws and orders across polling units. 

"Security may not be aware of the happenings in the polling units if you don't inform them appropriately. You need to inform your children and party members about this. There is no security officer that will intervene in the electoral process even on election day if they are not instructed by the INEC Presiding Officers," he argued.

He further urged the electorate to help secure the security, who according to him, were sometimes got killed, maimed or disarmed by the mob when they try to provide stop violence in polling units or collation centres.

Also the Convener and State Chairman, Anambra Civil Society Network, Prince Chris Azor, explained that to protect people mandate in every election required the collaboration of the security, market women and men, transporters, voters, INEC, NYSC, religious leaders, CSOs, and others.

According to Azor, the engagement programme was necessary to encourage the political parties to uphold internal democracies as going contrary to that could equally rob the masses their mandate, while the citizenry and politicians need to understand the legal implications of their actions and inactions, including having deep knowledge of electoral terminologies, materials and others.

The Director, CDD-West Africa, Dr Dauda Garuba, represented by Mr Chibuike Mgbeahurike had during the programme reminded the stakeholders that their duties in making every election credible starts before, during and after election.

"This is a call to action. Let us play our roles diligently to ensure that Anambra State's governorship election is free, fair and credible. The stakeholders need shared unity and commitment towards realising this. We are encouraged to be proactive, vigilance and maintain our integrity. We also need to respect, support the outcomes and support peaceful transitions," he stated. 

On his part, the State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Ajaegbu Edozie, thanked the CDD-West Africa for embarking on the programme, which according to him, would help to boost the citizens knowledge and skills for effective participation in electoral processes and internalising democracy.

Earlier speaking, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr Mrs Queen Elizabeth Agwu, urged parents, politicians and other stakeholders to educate their children and wards to support the commission in making their votes counts by eschewing selfishness, violence and other acts likely to breach the electoral process.