The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is prepared to conduct the Nov. 8 governorship election in Anambra.  

Queen Agwu, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), made this known on Wednesday during an interactive session with journalists in Awka.  

INEC had scheduled the state governorship election for Nov. 8 as one of the off-cycle polls in the nation’s election calendar.  

Apart from the governorship election, two bye-elections will also be conducted in Anambra.  

The bye-elections are due to the demise of Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South Senatorial Zone, and to fill the vacant Onitsha North Constituency seat in the State House of Assembly.  

The seat, previously occupied by Justice Azuka of the Labour Party, became vacant following his kidnap and murder by his abductors.  

“We are ready for the Anambra governorship election, hoping that political parties and the politicians are preparing also on their own,” the REC said.  

Ms Agwu, who noted that the three elections could not hold on the same day, insisted that the commission was ready for the elections.  

She charged political parties and their candidates to adhere to electoral rules.  

The REC advised political parties to begin mobilizing, sensitizing their members, and organising their primaries.  

She assured political parties and residents that the federal government would provide the necessary funds for INEC to conduct the elections.  

According to Ms Agwu, INEC will conduct transparent and credible elections in Anambra State.  

She lauded the media for maintaining a robust relationship with the commission since her arrival in the state as the INEC boss.  

The REC said that objective and balanced reporting by the media has ensured peace in the state, adding, “There was no misinformation throughout the general elections.”  

“When I arrived in the state in 2021, I identified with the media, provided all the working tools, and released credible information, which created no room for rumours.  

“In Nigeria, when an official does the right thing, people will not acknowledge or praise you, but once one does the wrong thing, there is criticism all over the place.  

“Now elections are around the corner, there is no small election, any election is taken very seriously.  

“We have the governorship election fixed for Nov. 8, and INEC has started working towards it. We also have two bye-elections in the state.”  

Ms Agwu said that before the November election, the voters’ register would be updated.  

“We have been holding a series of meetings with stakeholders, improving our technological systems, and updating our records.  
“We need to engage more people such as ad-hoc staff, transporters, among others, while security operatives are expected to improve better than what they did in the 2021 general elections,” Ms Agwu said.  

(NAN)