2.5m voters decide Soludo, Uba, Ozigbo, others’ fate

All is set for today’s governorship election in the most populous state in the South-East of Nigeria, Anambra, as no fewer than 2.5 million registered voters are expected to file out to elect a new governor for the state from the 5,640 polling units scattered across the state.

Eighteen governorship candidates drawn from 18 political parties are participating in today’s election in the state which is expected to produce the successor of the incumbent, Mr. Willie Obiano, who has served two constitutional allowed terms of eight years.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said results from the 5,634 polling units will be uploaded to its result-viewing portal.

The Commission, however, said collation of results would be done manually as obtained in previous elections and not with the uploaded results.

INEC said it is deploying at least 26,000 ad-hoc staff and that it had put in place group life and accident insurance for the permanent and ad hoc staff deployed for the election.

However, security uncertainty may deface the credibility of the election despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home order initially issued by the secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.

INEC said it couldn’t release the number of PVCs collected in the state because of the security situation and the sit-at-home order by the IPOB, which prevented residents from free movement.

However, 77,475 valid registered voters were added to the state’s voters’ register at the end of the first quarter of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise to bring the total number of registered voters in Anambra State to 2,525,471.

According to political analysts and residents of the state, the leading candidates in the election are Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA);  Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP); Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Godwin Maduka of Accord Party (AP).

Others are Chika Okeke Adibe (BP); Agbasimalo Emmanuel (LP); Ohajimkpo Emeka (NNPP); Ezenwafor Victor (NRM); Nnamdi Nwawuo (PRP); Uzoh Godwin (SDP) and Obiora Okonkwo (ZLP).

The remaining candidates include Etiaba Chukwuogo (AA); Nwankwo Chidozie (AAC); Akachukwu Nwankpo (ADC); Ume-Ezeoke Douglas (ADP); Onyejegbu Okwudili (APM) and Azubuike Echetebu (APP).

To guarantee security, no fewer than 34,000 police officers, excluding the Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence, military and other special operatives were deployed to the state for the governorship election.

Military and police helicopters have been hovering around the state in aerial surveillance, even as joint security teams do round-the-clock ground patrols.

The security teams, which have been working around the state, are made up of a long convoy that includes sniffer dogs, armoured tankers, ambulances and officials armed to the teeth. Security officers and their armoured tankers have also occupied major road junctions.

Meanwhile, The Star observed that despite the assurances of safety, there are clear indications that the election would be characterised by voter apathy, as many residents have already trooped out of town to avoid falling victim to the violence expected during the governorship poll.