Anambra Governorship Election Updates: Accreditation Delayed, Security Tight
Accreditation at Agulu Ward 2 ,Polling Unit 19, at Umudim Akasi, Agulu
Anambra state - On Saturday, Nov 16, 2013, residents of Anambra state will decide who would be in charge of their affairs for the next four years.
It is worth noting that accreditation, which was to commence by 8 a.m., has not yet started in a variety of locations when visited at 9 a.m.
Voters were patiently waiting for voting materials to arrive at a unit in Ogbankwa, Awka South Local Government Area, where there are 20 wards.
At Unit 26 in Ward 3, Ezinano, Agulu LGA, accreditation begun at about 9.30a.m., with three persons accredited by that time.
Security remains tight at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Awka, as the Police Counter
Terrorism Unit teams and the Special Protection Unit keep their watch.
INEC Public Relations Officer Frank Egbo said there had not been reports of any major challenges from the staff. According to the information they received, he added, the accreditation has begun in various polling
units.
Security operatives operatives at a deserted road in Amawbia, Awka
He also disclosed that INEC has directed that no Presiding Officer will attend to more than 300 voters in a unit. Where there are more than 300 voters, the unit will be split into two or more, to be manned by additional officers.
Egbo said he was not aware of reports that election materials were snatched at Orumba while being transported there.
Meanwhile, the no-movement order given by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has started taking effect with security check points mounted in parts of Awka, the state capital.
The closure of all Anambra borders from 5pm yesterday [November 15] to 4pm tomorrow [November 17] is supposed to control the rumoured influx of strangers from the neighbouring.
Over 3,000 policemen have been deployed for the election taking place in 4,608 polling units in 326 political wards in the 21 local government areas.
A total of 1, 784,536 registered voters are expected to vote in the election. According to INEC data, 52% of the registered voters are between 18 and 35 years; 25% of 36-50 years; 18% of 51-69 years; 5% of voters are above 70 years.
A new governor would put an end for Governor Peter Obi's eight-year rule in the state.
Anambra State has the record of being the only state that has produced four governors within the space of four years (between May 29, 2007-2011). Chris Ngige was removed by a court for not winning the 2007 elections, despite the announcement of INEC; he was replaced by Peter Obi; Dame Virginia Etiaba, Obi’s former deputy, was sworn in after the removal of Governor Obi by the state house of assembly; and, lastly, Senator Andy Uba, who won the 2007 elections.
The top contenders are Chris Ngige of APC (All Progressives Congress), Ifeayin Uba of LP (Labour Party), Tony Nwoye of PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), and Willie Obiano of APGA (All Progressives Grand Alliance).
