Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
Ahead of the November 8 governorship election, the Anambra State Police Command has established a special desk to monitor and document political activities and election-related issues in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, announced the development during a meeting with the Anambra Peace Mediation Committee, a group initiated by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), a non-governmental organisation working to promote peace and address potential conflicts in the build-up to the poll.
Expressing concern over the state of politics in Anambra, CP Orutugu lamented the low level of political enlightenment and the decline in discipline among political actors.
“The level of political enlightenment is very low. There is no longer discipline in the system because everybody wants to win,” he said.
“The character of politics and political manoeuvring in Nigeria, especially in Anambra, is not just about the dividends of democracy but ‘I pass you’.”
He explained that the political desk was created in the interest of peace to record political activities, challenges, and problems, thereby equipping the police to manage potential flashpoints and ensure a peaceful election process.
“We have established a political desk to document all political activities during the election. The desk will record every political information including challenges, problems, and other events that happen during the election,” he added.
The Commissioner emphasized the need for politicians and their supporters to embrace peaceful conduct, while also calling for the promotion of political education and the rejection of the “I must win” mentality.
Earlier, Ugochi Freeman, Secretary of the Peace Mediation Committee, briefed the CP on their interventions, including a recent peace walk to encourage non-violent electioneering in the state. She stressed that the committee’s primary objective is to foster a calm and stable environment before, during, and after the election.
“Our committee comprises individuals of integrity from religious institutions, academia, media, and NGOs, with a focus on mitigating conflict using KDI’s Pre-election Security Risk Assessment (ESRA) findings,” she said.
“Our mandate is to promote peaceful elections, conflict prevention, mediation, advocacy, public enlightenment, and stakeholder engagement, guided by the values of Peace, Integrity, Inclusivity, Respect, Fairness, and Collaboration.”
Also speaking, Venerable Joseph Nweke of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) assured that the committee would intervene in skirmishes and mediate disputes to sustain peace.
Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo of the Institute of Peace and Development Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), warned that a poorly managed election could have far-reaching consequences.
“Elections will come and go, but Anambra will continue to exist. If we run the governorship election in a catastrophic manner, the outcome may linger for a very long time,” he said.
Immediate past Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, commended the police for their performance during the recent senatorial by-election, expressing optimism that the November poll would be even better managed.
Similarly, another committee member, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, praised the police for being proactive in identifying potential hotspots that could disrupt the election process.
Other attendees at the meeting included Alhaji Garba Haruna, Chief Imam of the Muslim community; Dr. Ekene Ezinwa Nwankwo, Public Relations Officer at Anambra State Polytechnic; and Ifeyinwa Unachukwu of the Anambra Broadcasting Service.
