Anambra Guber: NSCDC Pledges Protection for Electoral Workers, Voters, Critical Assets

By Praise Chinecherem

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command has pledged to collaborate with electoral stakeholders to provide security and create peaceful voting enabling environment for electorate to exercise their franchise freely ahead of November 8 governorship election.

Commandant Maku Olatunde stated this while playing host to the Yiaga Africa Board and Management team at the State Command Headquarters Awka.

Maku, represented by Deputy Commandant Prominence Ukaobi, commended Yiaga Africa’s efforts in supporting security agencies and pledged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure a free, fair, and credible election in the state.

He emphasized the importance of collaborating with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) like Yiaga Africa to establish early warning systems and gather information to prevent the escalation of election-related violence.

The NSCDC boss assured the Corps support to Yiaga Africa in its pre-election assessment mission to the state, aimed at evaluating the pre-election environment and identifying areas that need strengthening before the election.

He called on citizens to support the Corps by providing credible intelligence to help avert any potential threats to the gubernatorial election, acknowledging the critical role of the NSCDC in ensuring electoral security.

Yiaga Africa’s Director of Programs, Mrs. Cynthia Mbamalu said their mission to the state was to observe the entire electoral process, covering the pre-election, election proper and post-election environments.

“NSCDC is a strategic partner in the electoral process given the significant role they play in protecting critical assets for the election.

“Yiaga Africa will undertake various activities in the state before, during, and after the election, including deploying long-term observers to all 21 local government areas to monitor the pre-election environment.

“We’ll also gather information on potential indicators of electoral violence, such as hate speech and gender-based violence,” she added.