Wednesday, August 19, 2026

AGF Malami threatens state of emergency ahead of Anambra elections

The warning came as insecurity heightened across the state, raising fears about the upcoming gubernatorial elections in November.

and • October 6, 2021
Malami and Kanu
AGF Abubakar Malami and Nnamdi Kanu

Attorney-General Abubakar Malami has threatened to declare a state of emergency over Anambra before the state’s gubernatorial elections next month.

Mr Malami said insecurity has spiked across the state, the largest in Igbo-dominate South-East, in recent weeks and the administration will not allow hoodlums overtake constitutional order.

“No possibility is out ruled by government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that our elections in Anambra holds, and you cannot out rule possibilities inclusive of the possibility of declaration or state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties and democratic order?” Mr Malami told State House reporters shortly after the federal executive council sitting on Wednesday.

Anambra has witnessed heighten crisis in recent weeks, with daredevil gunmen wreaking havoc on state assets and individual.

Stakeholders in Anambra project, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had raised alarm over the upsurge in cases of violent attacks on individuals and government facilities in Anambra as the governorship election in the state draws closer.

Violent attacks have escalated in the past few weeks forcing a halt in political campaigns in the state. Both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party candidates suspended their campaigns after their supporters were murdered by unknown gunmen.

Dr Chike Akunyili, husband to former information minister Dora, was last week murdered in cold blood. On Sunday, gunmen razed zonal offices of the police and the SSS in Nnewi.

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