The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified voter apathy as its greatest challenge in the November 8 Anambra governorship election.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, with a register of 2,802,790 eligible voters, Anambra has the numbers to powerfully shape its own destiny.
Prof. Amupitan regretted that voter participation in Anambra governorship election has been on downward slide since 2013.
He noted that turnout in the 2013 governorship election was only 25.5% 413,005 valid votes, out of 1,770,125 registered voters.
“In 2017, it dropped further to 20.10% (422,314 valid votes from 2,364,134 registered).
“In 2021, the situation deteriorated sharply with a mere 10.27% turnout (241,523 valid votes from 2,466,638 registered),” he said .
The INEC Chairman stated that democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders, and urged every person in Anambra to come out and exercise their civic right without fear or favour.
Prof. Amupitan disclosed that after clean-up, commission has a total of 2,802,790 voters in its register.
He stated that 98.80 percent voters have collected their permanent voters cards (PVC), and attributed it to the extension of collection period from October 29 to November 2.
“This is a significant collection rate for any election in Nigeria, and it sends a clear signal.
“All uncollected cards will now be safely retrieved and stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election,” he assured.
The INEC Chairman further stated that the commission is partnering with TAFAfrica for the deployment of Sign Language Interpreters across polling units in Anambra State.
“This landmark decision will enable the 3,456 registered voters living with disabilities (PWDs) in Anambra State to fully exercise their civic rights—a move TAFAfrica has rightly praised as historic,” he said.
He assured that 5,718 polling units will open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m., adding that bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS), would be deployed for the election for accurate accreditation and result upload to INEC Result election View (IReV) portal.
“More than 24,000 trained ad hoc personnel are on standby, with 6,879 BVAS devices fully tested, configured, and backed up.
“Over 3,000 vehicles and 83 boats, supported by security escorts, will guarantee timely movement, particularly to our riverine communities.
“Our Situation Room in Abuja will be monitoring field operations live to ensure rapid response to any challenge. The era of delayed polling unit openings must remain firmly behind us,” he added.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that registered voters in the six registration areas facing some security challenges in Ihiala Local Government will vote in the Local Government secretariat.
He assured that INEC would “deliver an election that is credible, inclusive and transparent, and warned that “anyone attempting violence, vote-buying, intimidation, or ballot interference will face swift, lawful consequences.
“And to the voters — you have collected your PVCs, Security will protect you, and INEC is ready for you. So, come out on Saturday, 8th November, vote freely, vote peacefully, vote proudly.”
