Ndi Anambra are today going to poll for gubernatorial election. The election is very important to all stakeholders, especially the eighteen political parties which fielded candidates for the election. The last governorship election was conducted in the state on Saturday, November 18, 2017.
Anambra state, in 2007, began the journey to staggered election in Nigeria, following the Supreme Court judgment, which declared that the tenure of a governor begins from the date he was sworn-in. This changed the date and tenure of governorship elections in Nigerian politics.
Already, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has promised that INEC would conduct a credible poll that would be acceptable to all. According to Professor Yakubu, two million, five hundred and twenty-five thousand, four hundred and seventy-one voters are expected to participate in the election. He called for violence-free exercise.
Violence, no doubt, is a physical act or behavior that hurts or kills. It does no one any good. Almost every day, news report reveal what happens when racial, ethnic, communal and political conflict do to the psyche of individuals, the nation, state, community and families, due largely to political interests. All these lead to economic hardship to government and the governed.
Hatred, animosity, social and political competitions, negligence, deprivation, marginalization and injustice, no doubt, lead to violent clashes. Violent speech or expression, attempt to rig an election, greed and selfishness lead to violence too.
Ndi Anambra are, therefore, urged to shun those tendencies in this election. Complying with electoral laws and exercising our franchise today is an opportunity for all. Thank God there is adequate security in the state as promised.
However, as Anambra electorate go out to exercise their franchise today, it is pertinent to remind them that voters must be at the polling station early to present themselves for accreditation before voting. They should obtain a ballot paper from the presiding officers and proceed to a screened compartment to thumb-print on the space beside the symbol of the political party of their choice.
Voters should ensure that they thumb print properly and correctly in the box provided and not invalidate their vote. Notably, a vote can be invalidated or made void if a voter writes his or her name in the box provided for voting or fails to thumb print at all. If a voter thumb prints in two boxes for two political parties or decides to thumb-print in-between the boxes provided for each political party, the vote will be considered void.
Voters are therefore strongly advised to avoid costly mistakes, if they want their votes to count. After voting, the voter would then proceed to the ballot box provided by INEC. The voter quietly leaves the boot where he or she has voted, after the finger has been marked with ink. The voter can stay within the polling station until the votes are counted by the INEC officials. Women should reduce their make-up, if possible, avoid them until after voting so that the machine could capture them easily.
Meanwhile, INEC authority has assured that people living with disability, PWDs would be given opportunity to enable them perform their civic responsibility once they show evidence of registration. There are some stipulated electoral offences to be avoided, which include improper voter card, impersonation, voting when not qualified and dereliction of duty by poll officials.
Others are disrupting election process, vote buying, canvassing for votes at the polling stations and snatching or destroying election materials. These offences have various penalties such as fine and prison terms attached to them.
Governments have repeatedly assured Ndi Anambra and Nigerians that adequate security has been put in place to protect and safe-guard the electoral personnel and voters who are now free to discharge their civic responsibility. It is against this backdrop that the electorate and other stakeholders in the 2021 Anambra state governorship election project are advised to go out and exercise their franchise without fear of molestation.
Election of this nature is very vital to enthrone credible leadership. Apathy cannot pay. No one should be blamed if you fail to go out to choose your leader. Today’s election is the opportunity of the masses to propel the state to growth and development. Do not shirk in your civic responsibility. Stand up to be counted among those who love their state and their country and want its progress by electing a credible governor today.
Let’s put aside even long standing animosities and generational disputes. Join the Anambra spirit now to raise the banner. Keep away from violence, Anambra state is unstoppable!