By Harry Awurumibe, just back from Awka, Anambra
Before the November 6, 2021 Anambra State Governorship Election, not many in the state, the South East geopolitical zone and the entire country believe that hell will not let loose in the state.
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What, with the spate of pre-election violence, kidnapping, arsons and outright killings as well as other political
brigandage in Anambra state had given the impression that the November 6 governorship election will not hold after all.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was the gruesome murder of the widower of late former Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili, Dr. Chike Akunyili in the streets of Awka, capital city of Anambra state.
Dr. Akunyili’s unfortunate killing provoked anger and fear in the land with the Federal Government condemning the dastardly acts and Anambra state Governor Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano placing huge sums of bounty on the head of the killers.
As the November 6 election day drew nearer and the level of insecurity in the state continued to fester, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, flirted with the idea of Declaration of State of Emergency in Anambra state.
However, the idea was dead on arrival as the uproar that greeted it was deafening even as Governor Obiano raced like a rabbit out of its hole to the Presidency to convince President Muhammadu Buhari that the security situation in his domain was not what the general public perceived it to be.
The Governor who addressed State House Correspondents after the closed door meeting with President Buhari said emphatically No to State of Emergency in Anambra state, telling everyone who cared to listen that “Mr. President is not aware of the State of Emergency talks”.
As the debate continued especially in the very vibrant Nigerian media, Governor Obiano was fast losing his Cabinet Members, Special Advisers, Members of Anambra State House of Assembly from his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and political parties members as well as friends.
Specifically, Governor Obiano lost his Deputy Nkem Okeke to the rival political party, APC whose gubernatorial candidate, Emmanuel Andy Uba was alleged to have been doling out handsome goodies to convince many in APGA and other political parties to jump ship. True to the characters of Nigerian politicians, many changed their parties overnight.
Nevertheless, in the face of the uncertainty over the conduct of the Anambra election, the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stood firm as the Commission continued to follow through its 14-item Programme of Activities leading to November 6 election day.
For the avoidance of doubts, the INEC under the leadership of an erudite scholar, Professor Mahmood Yakubu on January 19, 2021 at a World Press Conference at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja unveiled the 14 Activities which will happen to deliver a free, fair and credible election in Anambra state.
At every stage of the execution of the laid down activities, the festering insecurity in the land posed a stumbling blocks but the Commission remained adamant that the November 6 Anambra state Governorship Election was sacrosanct.
To actualize that date, the Commission opted for regular Consultative Meetings with the Stakeholders in the Anambra state Governorship Election which INEC is the lead agency with Professor Yakubu in the forefront of “Anambra Governorship Election Must Hold” campaign.
Luckily, in spite of some unseen circumstances which have occurred along the line, the Commission has been able to execute all the 14 activities plus the November 9 Ihiala Local Government Area Supplementary Election.
INEC diligently implemented every item in the 14 activities and on time too hence, Nigerians in general and Ndi Anambra (Anambra people) should commend the bravery of the Commission to deliver the Anambra Governorship Election in the face of the huge security challenges which dogged the state and entire South East geopolitical zone before, during and even after the election.
Despite the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voting Accreditation System (BVAS) in some Polling Units across the state and the misbehaviour of just few employee and ad hoc staff when faced with challenges, the Commission has delivered on its mandate.
The palpable fear of attacks and disruption of the November 6 election by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the “unpopular unknown gunmen” enveloped the entire country hence both the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Civil Society Organisations (CSO) called for the postponement or shifting the date of the election.
But, INEC would not have any of such suggestions as the Chairman kept assuring Nigerians and the Anambrarians that the Commission was ready to conduct election in Anambra state successfully and it did irrespective of the security and logistic challenges.
Unlike in the previous governorship elections in Nigeria, even in peace time, when some lives were lost on election day, the Anambra election did not record loss of lives on the election day, at least not to the knowledge of this reporter who covered the election extensively.
Professor Yakubu and his management team are truly among the winners of Anambra state Governorship Election as the determination of the Commission to go ahead with the November 6 has prevented political logjam which would have plunged Anambra state into confusion as the incumbent Governor must handover power to another person on March 17, 2022.
Note: Watch out for the biggest winner of 2021 Anambra state Governorship Election. Part 2 loading.