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Tag: Anambra State

  • Anambra poll: Situation room decries high deployment of security agencies

    Anambra poll: Situation room decries high deployment of security agencies

    Situation room on Friday raised the alarm over deployment of high number of security agencies in the Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Anambra state.

    The group described deployment of 45,000 security operatives for the exercise as clear manifestation of deficits within the democratisation process. 

    Addressing newsmen in Awka, Election Expert Achike Chude also expressed concerns over lack of competitiveness demonstrated by several political parties participating in the election.

    He however was optimistic security agencies’ presence would provide level-playing environment for parties, deter vote buying and selling, and uphold the sanctity of the election results. 

    He said, “We note the deployment of personnel by the security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force with a contingent of 45,000 personnel. 

    “We note that this is a rather high number and while we acknowledge the need to secure the election, the number of deployment in this election is a clear manifestation of deficits within our democratization process. 

    “After 26 years of regular elections, it is expected that with each election cycle, there will be a draw down in the number of security personnel in elections. 

    “The presence circumstances, partly created by antics of desperate politicians, is unacceptable. 

    “The conduct of security personnel deployed for this election must be professional and not seen as intimidating to voters in any way. 

    “Situation Room expects that the presence of security agencies in Anambra State will provide a level-playing environment for all parties, deter vote buying and selling, and uphold the sanctity of the election results. 

    The group further called on Police and other security agencies to ensure active contact centres capable of responding effectively to reported issues especially in flashpoints that have been identified prior to now. 

    “Situation Room notes with some degree of satisfaction the relatively peaceful atmosphere in Anambra State. This is in contrast to the very tensed situation under which the last governorship election held in the State. 

    “Situation Room believes that the state of anomaly was partly due to incessant and deliberate acts of misinformation and disinformation that permeated the state at the time. 

    “Situation Room hopes that this positive ambience will help drive voters to the polls to exercise their democratic franchise tomorrow, Saturday, 8th November 2025 given that Anambra State continues to be among the states with the lowest rate of voter turnout.

  • Anambra election: CP urges intelligence sharing among security agencies 

    Anambra election: CP urges intelligence sharing among security agencies 

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of Saturday governorship election in Anambra, Abayomi Shogunle, has called for coordination and synergy among security agencies before, during and after the poll.

    Shogunle made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday in Awka, by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.

    Shogunle quoted the CP as having made the call during a meeting with the security service commanders in the state to harmonise operational plans ahead of the election.

    “There is the need for coordination and synergy, real-time intelligence sharing, joint patrols, and professional conduct of personnel before, during, and after the election,” he said.

    He said that the measure aimed at ensuring peaceful, credible, and violence-free governorship election.

    The CP said the meeting would also harmonise and strengthen the already established security operational structures for the election.

    He reiterated the collective commitment of the security agencies toward ensuring a peaceful, credible, and violence-free election in the state.

    Shogunle said that the security architecture put in place in the state remained resolute and united in ensuring that the will of the people through the ballot prevailed.

    He encouraged residents to report suspicious persons and unusual movement to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency telephone numbers; 112 or 07039194332 for prompt response.

    The CP assured residents and political actors that the security agencies have jointly reviewed flashpoints, mapped out deployment strategies, and designed response mechanisms to swiftly address any breach of peace.

    The service commanders, in their separate remarks, pledged full cooperation and reaffirmed their readiness to maintain law and order, safeguard voters, election officials, material and critical national infrastructure.

    Read Also: Anambra Election: Eight local governments to decide Saturday’s governorship contest

    They called on the electorate to remain law-abiding, shun violence, and participate in the election without fear of intimidation.

    The service commanders also urged political parties and candidates to play by the rules and discourage their supporters from acts capable of disrupting the peace.

    The  meeting, held at the State Police Command Headquarters, Awka, brought together service commanders from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services.

    Others in attendance were Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps, and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    (NAN)

  • Ndi Anambra vote

    Ndi Anambra vote

    Forty-Eight Hours from now, the people of Anambra State will go to the polls to elect their governor. Will they return Governor Chukwuma Soludo, or will they elect a brand new governor? The election will be a test case for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, who assumed office last month. He is barely three weeks old on the job.

    It is good that he is starting with an off-cycle election and in one state for that matter. With the security challenges in Anambra and the Southeast, in general, he must roll up his sleeves to ensure that this problem does not mar the election. Security is not his job though, but it is vital to a successful election. The security agencies must lend him a helping hand in this regard.

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    Amupitan has his job cut out for him. It is free and fair election or nothing. He has a huge task ahead and as he makes his debut as INEC Chair, with the Anambra poll on Saturday, the country’s chief electoral officer must have his eyes on how posterity will judge his tenure. His name, Amupitan, which means “a catalyst of history”, speaks to that. The nation cannot wait to see him not only make history, but also be a catalyst of change.

  • Group mobilises traders for high turnout

    Group mobilises traders for high turnout

    The Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has begun mobilising traders across Anambra State to actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election. It said their involvement is crucial to achieving a higher voter turnout.

    SIDEC noted that only 92,000 out of over 2.6 million registered voters participated in the 2021 governorship election—a figure the organisation described as worryingly low.

    The group is currently implementing the Inclusive Mobilisation for Participation, Advocacy and Civic Transformation (Project IMPACT) in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, with funding support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO).

    Speaking during a voter education session at Ochanja Market, Onitsha, SIDEC’s Executive Director, Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, stressed that good governance depends on the active involvement of citizens, not just elected leaders.

    “It is not their government but our government,” she said. “We all must take ownership, and one way to do that is by casting our votes for candidates of our choice.”

    Ehiahuruike urged traders not to stay away from the polls or allow a few voters to decide the future of the state.

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    “November 8, 2025, is not a day for football matches or movie marathons. It is a day to decide the destiny of Anambra State for the next four years.

    Even if you choose not to vote, those who do will determine our collective direction. Come out and be counted. INEC has assured that every vote will count—speak loudly with your voter’s card.”

    She also appealed to candidates, supporters, and the electorate to maintain peace before, during, and after the election, stressing that development can only thrive in a peaceful environment.

  • Anambra election: INEC extends collection of PVC to Nov. 2

    Anambra election: INEC extends collection of PVC to Nov. 2

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing collection of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) in Anambra to Nov. 2 to enable eligible voters to collect their cards.

    Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC in the state made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Awka.

    “The INEC has approved the extension of the ongoing collection of PVC in Anambra from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2.

    “The decision was reached at a meeting of the commission held on October 27, following several appeals from citizens and stakeholders requesting additional time to enable eligible voters to collect their cards,” she said.

    Read Also: Power of incumbency impairs Nigeria’s electoral integrity, says ex-INEC Chair Jega

    According to her, registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs are encouraged to take advantage of this extended window to do so at the designated collection centres across the 326 Registration Areas (Wards) in the state.

    She said that the exercise covered persons who registered during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state.

    She said that the collection of the PVCs must be in person, as no collection by proxy would be allowed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state governorship election would be held on November 8.

    (NAN)

  • Vigilante groups not part of election security, says CP

    Vigilante groups not part of election security, says CP

    The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has said that local vigilante groups will not be involved in election security during the November 8 governorship poll in the state.

    Orutugu made this known on Monday during visits to the Ihiala Area Command and Oraifite Divisions as part of his ongoing statewide engagements on election security preparedness and community sensitisation.

    The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensuring the protection of lives and property, as well as the conduct of a peaceful, secure, and credible election.

    He explained that true patriotism during elections means rejecting intimidation, resisting fear-based narratives, and participating freely in the democratic process.

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    Addressing officers and men under the Area Commands, Orutugu charged them to uphold discipline, professionalism, courtesy, and the highest operational standards throughout the election period.

    “Policing must remain people-centred, intelligence-driven, and rooted in the protection of human rights,” the CP said.

    He added that the Joint Security Framework in the state remained active and would be reinforced across communities to prevent criminal infiltration and maintain peace before, during, and after the election.

    “We urge Ndi Anambra to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and proactive in providing credible information that can support ongoing security operations,” Orutugu stated.

  • Anambra community signs anti-cultism law

    Anambra community signs anti-cultism law

    People of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have been assured that the era of cult-related activities in the area will soon be over following the signing of the anti-cultism law.

    Council Chairman, Hon Stanley Nkwoka who gave the assurance on Friday during a press briefing said the law was necessitated by prevailing killings occasioned by cultism especially among the youths.

    He also disclosed plans to set up a body to partner with the Police and other security agencies to enforce the law.

    He said, “In Anambra, we have a challenge, and that’s cultism, which has extended to our local government.

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    “Last month, we had shootings that claimed lives. This led to a security meeting convened at my instance.

    “All the monarchs, PGs and youth leaders and other well-meaning individuals were in attendance and came up with a by-law to checkmate cultism in our area.

    “Here in Idemili, we want peace and that’s the reason for the law which is the model of the state government and was graciously passed into law by Congress of Counsellors.

    “We’re also going to set up a body that will partner with the Police and other security agencies to enforce the law.”

    Describing the event as symbolic, Nkwoka expressed optimism that the law would go a long way to curbing cultism, land grabbing, touting and other forms of criminality in the area.

  • Monarch weeps over killing of son, others in community by gunmen

    Monarch weeps over killing of son, others in community by gunmen

    An Octogenarian traditional ruler of  Nibo community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State,  Igwe MC Ngene, has wept over the killing of his son and other youths in the community by gunmen.

    Igwe Ngene spoke at the Nibo Civic Centre, when one of the illustrious sons of the community, Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe, empowered 20 youths in the area with N20 million.

    A few years ago, the monarch’s son, who was a local government chairman, was killed by the rampaging gunmen and  16 others in the community during a burial ceremony.

    The monarch, who has been on the throne for 40 years, said his mind had not been at rest since those incidents some years back.

    “Any time I remember those scenes in my community, it makes me weep, and they wear me out. And I pray Nibo will not witness such ugly incidents again,” the monarch said.

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    The monarch, therefore, commended the benefactor, Okelekwe, for being one of the lights in the Nibo community and the coordinator of the empowerment, Chief Douglas Aniemena, for painstakingly choosing the beneficiaries without knowing any of them

    However, the beneficiaries, selected after a rigorous screening process supervised by a committee headed by Chief Douglas Aniemena,  submitted viable business proposals to qualify for the grant.

    The event was  tagged ‘Nibo 20 for 20 Ceremony,’ and was presided over by the monarch

    Addressing the beneficiaries, Okelekwe urged them to be courageous, disciplined, and determined to become billionaires from the humble support they received.

    He assured that such a gesture could be raised to 50 persons in 2026, adding that it pains him seeing poverty ravaging his people when the means to help are there.

    He recounted his difficult childhood days, recalling how his mother, a petty trader in local soup spice, struggled to raise N200 for his university education in 1986.

  • Candidates to sign peace accord Nov 3

    Candidates to sign peace accord Nov 3

    Candidates of political parties contesting the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State will, on November 3, sign a peace accord ahead of the poll.

    The Executive Director of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and head of The Kukah Centre Secretariat, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, disclosed this yesterday during a pre-election engagement with stakeholders in Awka.

    “We’re here to work with those who understand the politics and cultural dynamics of this state, and to seek your advice on how to sustain peace in Anambra,” Barkindo said.

    “Secondly, we’re informing you about the November 3 peace accord signing ahead of the poll. Members of the NPC will arrive in the state next week with INEC officials for the exercise, which has become a tradition.”

    He added that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and other candidates had been notified of the event. “For us, this is critical because it gives the Committee the moral authority to intervene in any untoward situation. We pray that nothing of such happens,” Barkindo said.

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    “This state will outlive all of us. In 50 years, a new generation of Anambra people will take our place. We have a natural responsibility to hand over a peaceful and decent state to those coming after us. That’s why we’re here.”

    He urged candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the election period.

    “Our fears are normal—fear of the unforeseen. We’ll rely on the security agencies for intelligence. But we also advise candidates to behave in ways that reflect the values they claim to uphold,” he said.

    “We expect the candidates, as leaders, to guide their supporters properly. They must comply with the law and cooperate with officials managing the election. Even voters must conduct themselves peacefully.

    “We’re also warning against posting fake results, misinformation, disinformation, and the sharing of fake images—all of which can provoke violence.”

    Earlier, NPC Project Manager Asabe Ndahi said the engagement was aimed at promoting peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections in the state.

    “The meeting provides a platform for dialogue among political leaders, security agencies, civil society, and traditional institutions,” Ndahi explained.

    “It’s also to build consensus on the 2025 Anambra Peace Accord to be signed before the polls, and to strengthen coordination among political actors, INEC, and security agencies to reduce election-related violence.

    “Additionally, we’re reviewing early warning signals through the state’s Independent State-Based Peace Architecture (ISPA) and the NPC’s Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) system.”

  • Apprentice found dead in Anambra community 

    Apprentice found dead in Anambra community 

    Police in Anambra state have commenced investigation into alleged killing of a 17-year-old apprentice in Umuzocha, Awka in Awka South local government area of the state.

    Spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga who stated this on Monday, said the body of Chikamso Ejiofor was reportedly found lifeless in a compound the area.

    He said the Command got the report from a complainant who claimed she discovered the motionless body of the deceased in her compound on return from a church vigil same day.

    Ikenga however noted that the deceased parents who were traced and informed of the incident, voluntarily expressed their decision to discontinue with the case, citing awareness of his alleged unruly behavior. 

    According to him; “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikoye Orutugu has directed a continuous and discreet investigation to ascertain the true cause of death of a 17-year-old apprentice, who was reportedly found lifeless in a compound at Umuzocha, Awka.

    “Preliminary information reveals that on 5th October, 2025, at about 10.55 am, the Command received a report from a complainant that upon returning from a church vigil on same day she discovered the motionless body of an unidentified young man in her compound.

    “Following the report, Police operatives attached to the Central Police Station, Awka promptly visited the scene, took photographs, and conveyed the victim to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a Medical Doctor.

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    “Further investigation led to the identification of the deceased as Chikamso Ejiofor, aged 17 years, an apprentice. 

    “The parents of the deceased were subsequently traced and informed of the incident, but they voluntarily expressed their decision not to pursue the case further, citing their awareness of the deceased’s alleged unruly behavior. 

    “They have since sworn an affidavit and submitted a formal withdrawal letter to that effect.

    “However, the CP while acknowledging the family’s position, reiterated that the Command has a statutory responsibility to investigate all unnatural deaths to ensure that justice and transparency are served. 

    “He directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka to continue a thorough review of the incident to determine the actual cause of death.”