Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
The Anambra Peace Mediation Committee of the Kingpact Development Initiative (KDI) has paid an advocacy visit to the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Anambra State Command, Mr. Victor Akeh, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration for a peaceful and credible 2025 governorship election in the state.
Welcoming the delegation, Mr. Akeh commended the committee for its proactive engagement, describing the intervention as timely given the heightened political activities across the state.
“Most of the issues heating up the polity at this point come from supporters of political candidates,” he noted.
“Election management goes beyond election day; it begins before, continues during, and extends after the polls. We have observed challenges such as defacing of billboards, hate speech, and the spread of fake news. These small actions can snowball into crises if not properly managed.”
The DSS Director stressed that peace and stability were essential ingredients for development, urging political actors and their supporters to maintain decorum during campaigns.
“There is no development in rancour and acrimony,” he cautioned.
“There must always be winners and losers, and our collective responsibility is to ensure everyone plays by the rules.”
Mr. Akeh reaffirmed the DSS’s commitment to continued collaboration with the Peace Mediation Committee, particularly in intelligence sharing, which he described as crucial for early response and public confidence.
“Working together allows us to identify potential flashpoints and address them before they escalate. That’s how we ensure a safer and more peaceful Anambra,” he added.
Earlier in her remarks, Mrs. Ugochi Freeman, the KDI representative and team lead, said the visit was part of ongoing advocacy to foster partnerships among critical stakeholders in peacebuilding and election preparedness.
“Our goal is to work together and forge a common front that promotes harmony and trust among political actors, security agencies, and citizens,” she stated.
Also speaking, Venerable Emma Nweke, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra State Chapter, and a member of the committee, emphasized that the group was non-partisan and committed to ensuring a violence-free electoral process.
“We are a peace-driven committee mandated to collaborate with key institutions like the DSS because of their strategic intelligence role,” he said.
“Saving lives and preserving peace before, during, and after the elections is our collective mission.”
On his part, Professor Jaja Nwanegbo, another member of the committee, explained that the KDI Peace and Mediation Working Committee comprises civil society actors actively engaging communities to build trust and prevent conflict. He also announced plans to host a Peace Summit that would bring together stakeholders across Anambra to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful elections.
The meeting was attended by senior DSS officers, including the Deputy Director of Security, Mr. Augustine Saleh Amtagu, and the Assistant Director, Intelligence, Mrs. Rachael Osayi.
