Anambra guber: NGO asks INEC, security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy

The Kimpact Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has called on political actors, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the electorate to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.

Speaking during a pre-election press briefing in Awka, Anambra capital, Bukola ldowu, KDI executive director, said the NGO has been closely monitoring the electoral environment in the state through data-driven research, stakeholders engagement, and on-ground observation under its Nigeria election violence education and resolution (NEVER) project.

“Our pre-election assessment highlights key trends, risks, and opportunities for ensuring credible and violence-free polls,” KDI said.

KDI noted that the voter turnout in Anambra has been on a decline.

“Declining voter turnout has fallen by over 58%in the last eight years, despite consistent growth in voter registration,” the NGO said.

“It will appear that voter turnout is falling at the same rate at which voter registration was growing. This means that while more citizens are registering to vote, fewer are turning out on election day — a troubling trend that points to deepening voter apathy
and declining trust in the electoral process.

“To better understand this decline, KDI conducted a detailed analysis and discovered that although Anambra north senatorial recorded the highest number of registered voters, it has consistently produced the lowest voter turnout in the state.

“While insecurity contributes to low voter turnout in the state generally, Anambra south, which has historically experienced higher levels of insecurity, still recorded comparatively better turnout rates.”

KDI added that its findings suggest that other factors contribute to the low participation in Anambra north, including logistical and geographical challenges.

“Some local governments in the district, such as Anambra east, Anambra west, and Ogbaru, are largely riverine and made up of hard-to-reach communities,with a higher voter-to-polling-unit ratio than other districts,” KDI said.

“These factors have contributed significantly to voter fatigue, disenfranchisement, and the persistent low turnout in the region.

“Special attention must then be paid to these areas lest Anambra risks experiencing another historically low voter turnout in tomorrow’s governorship election.”

On the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), KDI said while the commission has demonstrated logistical readiness, some operational gaps persist.

“KDI’s comparative analysis of INEC’s preparedness for the 2025 Anambra governorship election against the 2024 Ondo off-cycle election reveals a mixed outlook on operational readiness,” the NGO said

“The training of adhoc officials concluded only on November 6, 2025 — two days before the election, compared to a timelier completion in Ondo 2024 which left no room for mock drills or refresher sessions, limiting INEC’s ability to evaluate the competence of adhoc personnel and replace unfit or unavailable staff ahead of election day.”

“INEC’S IMPROVEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY USAGE A POSITIVE INDICATOR”

The NGO noted that INEC’s continuous engagement with stakeholders and improvements in technology usage, particularly through the BVAS and IREV platforms, remain positive indicators that, if effectively managed, can mitigate these risks and enhance the credibility of the process.

On logistics concerns, KDI said the endorsement of Charles Soludo, the incumbent governor, by the Joint Transporter Forum, comprising NURTW, RTEAN, keke, okada,and bus unions, raises “a significant logistical red flag”.

“Since INEC relies heavily on these unions for material transportation, their partisan alignment could undermine perceptions of neutrality, risk delays, and erode public confidence in the process,” the NGO said.

KDI added that hotspot mapping analysis for the Anambra election indicates that while the overall security risk across the state remains moderate, several localised flashpoints persist in areas historically prone to electoral tension, political rivalry, and voter intimidation.

The analysis identifies Aguata and Ihiala as severe-risk areas, with a high likelihood of violence or disruption on election day.

“Nnewi north, Nnewi south, and
Ogbaru are categorised as high-risk LGAs, while the remaining LGAs are assessed as
being at a moderate risk level,” KDI said.

“In practical terms, this means that LGAs classified as severe or high riskface a greater probability of experiencing election-related disturbances, ranging from logistical delays and voter suppression to violent clashes,unless proactive measures are taken.

“Conversely, moderate-risk areas could be relatively peaceful, provided preventive actions are maintained and early warning signals are properly addressed.”

The NGO, therefore, urged security agencies to uphold professionalism, neutrality, and restraint in their election-day operations.

“KDl expects a largely peaceful election but emphasizes that the credibility of the process will depend on timely deployment, transparent procedures, and restraint by political actors and their supporters,” the NGO said.

“We call on eligible voters to come out peacefully, exercise their civic rights, and resist any attempt to disrupt the process or sell their votes.”