Free, fair, credible elections in Anambra will test INEC’s competence for 2019

The Anambra gubernatorial election holds tomorrow, and perhaps more than any election since 2015, has seen a very dramatic build up.
The now proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group had persistently opposed the conduct of the Anambra election, describing the country as a Zoo where institutions are incapable of discharging their duties professionally, and without bias. IPOB’s opposition to the election had also included other elements of their agitation as they opine the region has not been fairly treated in the Nigerian entity.
Failing to conduct a free, fair and credible election will validate the views of these people who hitherto, had expected the worst. INEC has to prove that Nigeria is not a Zoo but a sovereign nation where elections can be conducted without manipulations, without prejudice, and without subverting the wishes of the electorate.
We want INEC to see this election as the ultimate test of its ability to conduct free and fair elections in 2019 when the seats of President, Vice President, 29 state governors, 36 state houses of assemblies, members of the Federal House of Representatives, and the Senate will be up for election.
This year, N45 billion was appropriated for INEC, and the commission has to justify this money. With Anambra being the only state to have a governorship election this year, INEC has to justify the financial resources being committed to the election, particularly at a time the country has enormous financial challenges.
The security agencies must also ensure they do not become tools; willing or unwilling, in derailing the attainment of credible elections in Anambra, tomorrow. The police command in the course of this week withdrew the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano’s Aide-De-Camp (ADC), in what has been based on supposed previous experiences where the military allegedly caught an ADC to an unnamed governor escorting a vehicle loaded with arms on election day. It was also made known that policemen attached to political appointees, Local Government Chairmen and others in Anambra have equally been withdrawn till after the election. This, according to the police is to ensure its officers are not used by their erstwhile principals to perpetuate electoral crimes.
The decision by the police force to withdraw policemen attached to politicians, particularly, the incumbent governor is already generating a lot of controversy. The rationality of this move remains debatable, however, it is being keenly observed if the Senate’s directive for a reversal of this action will be obeyed or not, particularly as pertains to the governor.
What is more important is that, the show of zealousness by the police headquarters in “forestalling any attempts to compromise the election” will in the end, not turn out to have been a hypocritical charade. Security during the election is to be provided by 26, 000 police officers, 300 vehicles, three helicopters and 15 gunboats. We want INEC to ensure that the security complements being provided by the police and expectedly, other security agencies, will deliver an election that will not turn out inconclusive, marred with violence, manipulations, and any form of disenfranchisement.
The whole country is watching, and we want INEC to prove that it is indeed capable of managing the democratic process in electing public officers. For Nigeria to grow and surmount present economic challenges, people must occupy public office only when elected by their people, and share their aspiration for inclusive and not selfish growth.