Over 2.8 million registered voters in Anambra State will today, Saturday, elect a new governor to lead the state for the next four years.
The election, which is the first under the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is seen as a major test of the commission’s commitment to credible and transparent polls.
According to INEC, 2,802,790 voters are eligible to vote across 5,718 polling units, with 98.8% of Permanent Voter Cards collected. Sixteen political parties are contesting, including five major candidates — incumbent Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (APGA), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), Dr. George Moghalu (Labour Party), John Nwosu (ADC), and Jude Ezenwafor (PDP).
INEC said over 24,000 ad hoc staff and 6,879 BVAS devices are deployed, with sensitive materials already distributed to local government areas under tight security.
Meanwhile, the Anambra Police Command has imposed a total restriction of vehicular movement from midnight to 6pm to prevent the movement of political thugs and ensure safety. Only accredited journalists, election officials, and emergency workers are exempted.
Over 55,000 security personnel, including a Deputy Inspector General of Police, have been deployed across the state, while INEC’s state office in Awka has been heavily guarded by security operatives.
Election monitoring groups such as the Centre for Transparency Advocacy and CDD-West Africa have set up situation rooms, deploying more than 200 observers statewide.
Ahead of the poll, markets and transport hubs witnessed heavy activity on Friday as residents made last-minute purchases and travelled to their communities to vote.
Insecurity remains a concern in parts of Ihiala, Orumba North, Ogbaru, Nnewi South, Aguata, and Orumba South, identified by Yiaga Africa as potential flashpoints.
APGA’s Ejimofor Opara urged high voter turnout, saying the party is targeting one million votes, while the APC warned against the use of non-state actors during the poll.
Voting is scheduled to begin by 8:30am at all polling units across the state.
