Voters on queue to cast their ballots for their preferred candidates

A consortium of election observers in Anambra and some human  rights’ activists and politicians have commended the people of Anambra  over the smooth and peaceful conduct of Nov. 18 governorship election in the state.

They noted that the governorship election successful despite threats by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The observers – Independent Service Delivery Group (ISDMG) and the Nigeria Civil Society (NCS) –  in their separate news conferences in Awka on Sunday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for early distribution of materials and officials to the local government areas for the exercise.

Dr Chima Amadi, Executive Director of ISDMG, however, said that there was late arrival of materials in some places.

Amadi, however, commended INEC for early arrival of materials and timely commencement of voting in most parts of the state.

ISDMG boss, however, expressed concern over wide spread reports from field-observers indicating vote buying and inducement of voters and security agencies by political parties and their agents during the exercise.

“Reports from our observers in the field on the widespread open selling of votes by citizens cast a major slur on the integrity of the votes.

“The trend of  vote-buying which has become a major feature of recent elections, sadly repeated itself in Anambra.

Also, Mr Clement Nwankwo, Convener of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, in his interim report, also noted buying and selling of votes by political parties and electorate during the election.

Nwankwo, however, commended the manner security operatives on election duty in Anambra discharged their duties with utmost civility.

He noted that there were initial delays in INEC deployment of personnel for the elections as well as delay in transporting materials to the Polling Units.

Nwankwo also said that the secrecy of voters was compromised in some instances, adding that cubicles were displayed openly thereby depriving some voters the right to exercise their franchise freely.

“Situation Room is also disappointed with political leaders in the state whose conduct, carriage and disposition encouraged blatant buying and selling of votes to their citizens.

“This emerging impunity of vote-buying appears to be a dangerous trend in our elections and needs to be addressed urgently.

“However, the widespread fear of over-policing of the elections by the security services did not manifest.

“We note the weakness of the deployment plan of the Police, particularly in the rural areas.

“We also note that the perennial inadequate provision for the welfare and salaries of police personnel also re-occurred.

“However, we note that the policemen conducted themselves in a non-intimidating and civil manner.

“Observers did not however  report any unsavoury incident of police unprofessionalism. We note proper conduct of the military on the major roads during the election.

“It was observed that across the state that voting cubicles were positioned in ways that compromised the secrecy of voting.

“There was no standard or consistency with regards to setting up of the polling units,” Nwankwo said.

Nwankwo advocated better welfare for NYSC members and other officials in the exercise, including the police to enhance their effectiveness in future exercise.

But some activists and politicians told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that the large turnout of voters during the election signified democracy and patriotism at work.

The Secretary General of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Mr Shola Omolola, told NAN that the people exhibited high level of intelligence toward the election.

“The turnout of voters in the election simply implies that the voters are wiser and smarter than they were before; they believe in democracy and want it to grow.

“ They also know that IPOB cannot represent the government,’’ Omolola said.

Also, Mr Dennis Aghanya, the Secretary-General, Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative, said the turnout was a testimony that the Igbos were well cultured.

“The large turnout of voters at the governorship election is a clear testimony that the Igbo people are very sophisticated and will not want to be dragged into the mud by the activities of IPOB.

“Government should by this success, therefore, not generalise that the Igbos are not in  support of the “Nigeria Project ’’

“Some of the Igbos may not be fans of the APC as a political party but they are supportive of the giant programmes of Mr President.

“They know that these are efforts by the president  to put the country back on the right path,’’ Aghanya said.

He congratulated the people of Anambra, who made the election a success, saying that he hoped the people’s choice would be respected.

The Deputy Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Lagos State, Chief Ola Apena, commended the massive turnout of voters in the Anambra election.

Apena said that it meant that majority of the South-Easterners were not on the same page with IPOB.

He said: “Probably they are not in total support of the IPOB style of going about addressing the issue of maginalisation of the region’’.

Mr Ehiz Omohuale, the Lagos State Chairman, Civil Liberty Organisation, urged Nigerians to toe the path of voters in Anambra and replicate same in 2019 Elections.

“This feat (huge turnout) should be replicated by all Nigerians in 2019, so that we can massively  vote in better people.

“It is also a big plus to the security in the South- East region as the indigenes are gradually ignoring the voice of dissension,’’ Omokhuale said.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, said the turnout of voters meant that voters knew the importance of choosing choice leaders.

“What it means is that people do not want to miss the opportunity to choose their leaders, and that should inform the tactics of agitators,’’ Okei-Odumakin said.