The Anambra Election Observation Hub has commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, describing the process so far as largely calm, secure and professionally managed.
The hub is a coalition of Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, the International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and Society, Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund, ELECT-Her and TAF Africa.
The coalition is supported by the European Union under the Support to Democratic Governance Project.
According to the hub, 700 citizen observers were deployed across all 21 local government areas of the state for the election.
Presenting the coalition’s preliminary findings in Awka, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said election officials and security agencies in the units observed demonstrated appreciable professionalism and knowledge of electoral procedures.
He said while deployment of sensitive and non-sensitive materials was largely successful, some logistical delays were recorded in the arrival of materials and personnel in parts of the state, resulting in late commencement of voting in some polling units.
Despite the delays, he noted that voters conducted themselves peacefully.
Low voter turnout anticipated
Itodo however expressed concern over low turnout of voters in many polling units, saying the apathy already predicted in pre-election reports appears to be playing out.
“While it is too premature to provide exact turnout rates, our preliminary observations across LGAs indicate low voter turnout,” he said.
He explained that each organisation within the hub is leading a thematic pillar covering election integrity, result verification, security, disability inclusion, gender participation, peacebuilding, disinformation tracking and media safety.
According to him, the group is applying a triangulated methodology that combines systematic, statistical and technology-driven tools to assess the election.
The hub will issue two statements during the election cycle, before releasing thematic reports from each partner organisation at the end of the process.
“This briefing is a preliminary assessment of the opening of polling units, deployment of materials and personnel, accreditation, voting as well as inclusivity and accessibility. Additional information will be issued subsequently,” he stated.
