As political activities gather momentum in Anambra State, both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force have reaffirmed their readiness to ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming Senatorial bye-election scheduled for August 16 and the governorship election slated for November 8.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, and the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Elizabeth Agwu, gave the assurance during separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Awka.
CP Orutugu, who also chairs the Anambra State Security Committee, revealed that regular inter-agency meetings have been ongoing to review security trends and fine-tune strategies ahead of the polls. He noted that the Police Command is working closely with sister security agencies and the electoral body to guarantee a peaceful atmosphere before, during, and after the elections.
“We have held several high-level meetings with INEC and other security formations. I can confidently say we are fully prepared for the elections. Our goal is to ensure the polls are conducted in a free, fair, and secure environment,” Orutugu said.
He commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for their unwavering support to the command. He also called for additional logistical backing to further enhance operational efficiency across all units involved in election security.
On her part, the INEC REC, Mrs. Elizabeth Agwu, stated that the Commission is fully geared up for both elections. She disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which kicks off on July 17, is specifically for the governorship election and not the Senatorial bye-election. She clarified that only existing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be valid for the August poll.
According to her, the CVR will run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and fresh registration must be done physically at designated INEC centres. However, data updates or corrections can be handled online.
“No one will be registered by proxy. All applicants must appear in person, and registration outside the approved hours will not be processed. We urge eligible citizens to seize the opportunity to get registered or update their records as necessary,” Agwu stressed.
She added that INEC has already concluded training for ad hoc staff, and arrangements with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for corps member deployment are also in place. In preparation for the governorship election, she said the commission has configured 300 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and personally verified their functionality.
On logistics, she revealed that INEC has formal agreements with various transport unions across Nigeria to provide mobility on election day, noting that all payments to these unions would be handled transparently by the commission.
“No one should pay any person for registration or to gain undue access to the process. INEC is not collecting money from any applicant. We have warned the public repeatedly, and offenders will be prosecuted if caught,” she cautioned.
The REC further stated that the Commission has intensified sensitisation campaigns in line with the Electoral Act to engage stakeholders, traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and the media across the state.
She also assured residents that adequate security will be in place throughout the election period, as security personnel from various parts of the country will be deployed to complement local forces.
“We are determined to deliver an election that is even better than the previous one. The security of lives and the integrity of the process are non-negotiable. We encourage the people of Anambra to come out without fear and exercise their civic responsibility,” Agwu said.
