INEC to cancel Anambra governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is clear that the governorship election in Anambra State slated for November 6, 2021, might not hold under the rising insecurity in the Southeast.

Chief Press Secretary to the commission’s chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi in a recent interview said it is deeply concerned about the situation in the South-East especially as it concerns threats to disrupt the elections in the zone.

INEC also explained that there could be a constitutional crisis if it (commission) was unable to conduct general elections in the region.

Oyekanmi, however, said INEC had been engaging with security agencies on the platform of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

He said the commission and the security agencies had been discussing and comparing notes on the security situation across the country generally.

“The commission is deeply concerned about the security situation in the South-East. It is an established fact that INEC cannot carry out electoral activities under chaotic conditions.

“God forbid that INEC is unable to conduct such elections at the appointed time because this will lead to a constitutional crisis. The constitution did not envisage that such elections will not hold.

“With regard to the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 6, we are aware of the various efforts by the security agencies on the one hand, and all the men and women of goodwill in the region on the other, to calm things down,” Oyekanmi said.