Anambra Guber: CTA Tasks INEC, Security Agencies on credible, Technologically Driven Poll

By Praise Chinecherem

On the eve of the crucial Anambra State governorship election, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has raised key concerns and issued a string of demands to electoral stakeholders, insisting that the November 8 poll must be peaceful, credible and technologically strengthened to rebuild trust in democracy.

Addressing journalists in Awka on Friday, Expert team member of CTA, Prof Alex Asigbo of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University said hopes are high among voters — particularly the youth — who were energized by the last election cycle and the deployment of new technology that promised to make votes count.

He said this surge in political consciousness must not be betrayed by operational lapses, violence or monetisation of the process.

According to him, the group is deploying 50 trained observers across all 21 local government areas of the state, who will send real-time reports from polling units and collation centres.

“A Situation Room has also been activated in Awka to receive and analyse the live reports,” he added.

The group recalled that between September 15 and 30, 2025, it also implemented a voter enlightenment campaign in Orumba South LGA in partnership with the Koyenum Immalah Foundation (KIF), aimed at discouraging electoral malpractices and motivating turnout ahead of tomorrow’s election.

It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that logistics challenges — which often lead to late deployment of materials and personnel — do not occur in tomorrow’s poll.

“Ndi Anambra do not expect anything less. INEC as an institution and its staff must live above board,” the organisation said.

It called on the Commission to sanction any staff found engaging in misconduct, while also ensuring NURTW mobilisation is timely to beat delays.

On security, CTA warned that despite a relatively calm campaign period, there are still flashpoints in Orumba South, Ihiala and Ogbaru.

It called for stronger inter-agency synergy to protect voters, election workers and materials before, during and after voting.

Ahead of Saturday’s balloting, CTA urged citizens to turn out en masse, shun vote buying and conduct themselves peacefully.

It condemned the spread of unverified stories, doctored flyers and fake news on social media, cautioning mainstream media not to amplify unverified claims.

Executive Director, CTA, Faith Nwadishi challenged politicians to respect the peace accord they willingly signed, and refrain from hate speech, intimidation and money politics.

She also charged them to resist the urge to indulge voter intimidation and suppression under whatever guise.

She said, “Our observation will be focusing on conduct of the political class, being the weakest link in the electoral reform value chain.

“We’re going to observe their presence and conduct, deployment of party agents, gender inclusion throughout the electioneering period.

“For example, we observed that only 7 of the 16 political parties were represented during the distribution of sensitive materials at the CBN.

“As a very significant aspect of the election, such number of representatives is not encouraging must be frowned at.

“We hope the political class will take this exercise seriously being the major beneficiaries of efforts of all other stakeholders.”