“Do not do anything that will harm this process. Finally, I want to encourage agents of the Independent National Electoral Commission, I know you’ve gone through a lot of pain, a lot of losses, with your colleagues from the Nigeria police force and other agencies do not allow what has happened in the past to dampen your spirits, do not allow it to push you into a state of lethargy. Please continue to support the leadership of INEC and let us get this job done. I wish you fruitful deliberations
“We all know how important this exercise is, not only for those of us who are supposed to ensure hitch-free exercise but for the people who are expected to vote. This is what we know to be the greatest optimization of what every citizen should aspire to. It is the number one legitimate expectation and right of every citizen and we must not deny anybody that right to exercise his civic duty, not just to exercise it, but to exercise it in an atmosphere devoid of rancor devoid of apprehension, tension, and all those factors that lead to suspicion and people ending up in courts or even into violence”, he stated.
“The Commission is also working with the National Peace Committee under the leadership of our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR, to bring all political parties and candidates for the Anambra State Governorship election to commit to peace before, during, and after the elections.
“We appreciate this wide-ranging support and I wish to reassure the registered voters in Anambra State that the choice of the next Governor lies in their hands. I urge all and sundry to play their part in ensuring a free, fair, credible and peaceful governorship election in Anambra State
“Would like to warmly welcome members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to this meeting. As some of you are probably aware, two INEC National Commissioners were sworn in this afternoon by the President.
“Let me, therefore, welcome to the Commission, and introduce to ICCES, Kunle Cornelius Ajayi, a Professor of Political Science at the Ekiti State University, and Muhammad Sani Kallah, a retired Professor of Ecology and Range Management at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as the new National Commissioners representing the South West and North West geo-political zones respectively. As the new National Commissioners can see, work in INEC begins in earnest. You have joined the Commission on the eve of a major election and your first activity is this ICCES meeting. Next week, we will move to the field in Anambra State. You are welcome to INEC”, he said.
Yajubu noted that the Commission has successfully completed 12 tasks out of 14 except 2 which are meant for the election day, stressing that INEC is determined and fully prepared to proceed with the Anambra Governorship election. He said the Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner is with the commission to brief it of preparations as it is customary of the process before any election.
“The 2021 Anambra State Governorship election is held in the next 12 days on 6th November 2021. Our deployment of non-sensitive materials and training of personnel for the election have virtually been concluded. The Commission has successfully accomplished 12 out of the 14 activities listed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election released in January this year.
The two outstanding activities are the last day of the campaign, at midnight on Thursday 4th November 2021, and Election Day which remains Saturday 6th November 2021. The REC for Anambra State is here to fully provide an update on the implementation of other activities and INEC’s general state of readiness for the election.
“INEC is determined to proceed with the Anambra State Governorship election as scheduled. The safety and protection of voters, our personnel, accredited observers, the media, and materials are cardinal considerations in any election.
We have been assured by the security agencies of a secure environment for the election. I am sure the CP Anambra State in his briefing, will provide more details regarding preparations on the ground. I wish to place on record the continued support of security agencies to the Commission during elections.
“Particularly noteworthy is the high level of professional conduct of the agencies in the last two major elections in Edo and Ondo States. Indeed, Edo and Ondo have become the standard for securing elections in Nigeria. The professionalism and neutrality exhibited by the security agencies in the two elections have been widely praised nationally and internationally. We are confident that this will be replicated in Anambra State”.
The Commission however said it wishes to register the profound gratitude of the Commission for the support they have received from religious, traditional, and community leaders for peaceful elections.
“The Commission is also working with the National Peace Committee under the leadership of our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR, to bring all political parties and candidates for the
Anambra State Governorship election to commit to peace before, during, and after the elections. We appreciate this wide-ranging support and I wish to reassure the registered voters in Anambra State that the choice of the next Governor lies in their hands. I urge all and sundry to play their part in ensuring a free, fair, credible, and peaceful Governorship election in Anambra State”, he said.
