Voter Participation in Anambra State Reaches 98.8% for Upcoming Governorship Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reported that a remarkable 98.8% of registered voters in Anambra State have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the upcoming Saturday governorship election. According to data from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 2,769,137 out of 2,802,790 registered voters have successfully obtained their PVCs.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, highlighted this achievement during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday. He described the high turnout as a “significant achievement” for any election in Nigeria, emphasizing the commission’s efforts to ensure accessibility for all eligible voters.
Extended Deadline and Improved Turnout
Amupitan noted that INEC’s decision to extend the deadline for PVC collection across all 326 Registration Areas played a crucial role in increasing voter participation. Initially, only 63.9% of voters had collected their cards, but the extension of the collection period from Wednesday, October 29, to Sunday, November 2, helped close this gap.
“Following the conclusion of voter registration and a thorough database clean-up, the commission finalized a register of 2,802,790 voters for this election on September 4,” he said. “By extending the PVC collection period, we ensured that all eligible voters could access their cards.”
The chairman expressed satisfaction with the results, stating that the percentage of collected PVCs now stands at an impressive 98.80%. He added that uncollected cards will be safely stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election.
Encouraging Voter Participation
Despite the high PVC collection rate, Amupitan raised concerns about the historical low voter turnout in Anambra. He cited previous elections:
- In 2013, turnout was 25.5% (413,005 valid votes from 1,770,125 registered).
- In 2017, it dropped further to 20.10% (422,314 valid votes from 2,364,134 registered).
- In 2021, the turnout was just 10.27% (241,523 valid votes from 2,466,638 registered).
He urged all eligible voters to participate in the upcoming election, emphasizing that democracy thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders.
Ensuring a Credible and Secure Election
Amupitan assured voters that INEC is committed to delivering a credible, inclusive, and transparent election. He confirmed that all 5,718 polling units will open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on election day.
To reinforce this commitment, four National Commissioners have remained in Anambra to personally supervise the election, supported by ten Resident Electoral Commissioners deployed from across the country.
In areas facing security challenges, such as six Registration Areas in Ihiala Local Government, voters will cast their ballots safely and securely at the Local Government secretariat, under the protection of security agencies.
Addressing Misconduct and Ensuring Fairness
Amupitan also addressed concerns about potential misconduct by ad hoc officers. He mentioned that the riot act was read to participating officers during a stakeholders meeting in Awka on Tuesday. The commission emphasized that electoral officers must uphold the system, and any misconduct will not be tolerated.
“We also promised to reward any local government or electoral officer that performs well and ensures timely announcement of results,” he said. “We have our own metrics to use as a reward system.”
On the other hand, any officer found guilty of misconduct will face swift and lawful consequences.
Preparing for the Federal Capital Territory Election
Amupitan reminded political parties participating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election that the submission of names of polling agents and observers would end on December 15.
Final Words of Encouragement
Amupitan concluded by urging voters to come out on Saturday, vote freely, and support a peaceful and proud democratic process. He reiterated that security agencies will protect voters, and INEC is fully prepared to ensure a smooth election.