Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
The Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI), a youth-led, non-partisan organization, has announced plans to partner with the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure that the November 8 Anambra governorship election is free, fair, and credible.
During a courtesy visit to both agencies’ headquarters in Awka, CATYCOI Executive Director, Mr. Nonso Orakwe, said the initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration with security agencies to promote peaceful and inclusive elections.
“We seek collaboration with the Police and NSCDC to enhance civic participation and ensure security during the election. Our goal is to promote good governance, voter education, and inclusiveness throughout the electoral process,” Orakwe said.
He urged security agencies to ensure the safety of voters and materials before, during, and after the polls, while commending the police for their professionalism in previous elections.
Responding on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, lauded CATYCOI’s advocacy but noted that such initiatives should begin long before the election year for greater impact.
“Our biggest challenge remains voter apathy. People must be encouraged to participate actively in the process,” he said.
Ikenga emphasized that with innovations like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), incidents of ballot box snatching have reduced significantly. He assured that the Police would provide a safe environment for voters to exercise their rights without fear or intimidation.
He also revealed plans to establish a Police Situation Room for real-time monitoring of election activities and invited CATYCOI to participate as observers.
“The Police do not carry arms at polling units because elections are civic, not military, activities,” he added.
At the NSCDC headquarters, Orakwe reiterated CATYCOI’s commitment to working with security agencies to ensure a peaceful and transparent election.
Deputy Commandant P.N. Ukaobi, who represented the State Commandant, Mr. Maku Olatunde, assured that the Corps would continue to collaborate with civic groups and stakeholders to promote credible elections.
She lamented the low voter turnout in previous polls, noting that despite huge investments in the electoral process, public confidence had remained weak.
“Many people have lost faith in the process, but we are beginning to see renewed interest and participation, which is encouraging,” she said.
Orakwe further disclosed that CATYCOI has proposed several electoral reform bills before the National Assembly, including one seeking the establishment of an Independent Electoral Offences Commission to ensure timely prosecution of offenders.
He also called for clearer implementation of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), insisting that citizens should be able to register at any time at their local government offices.
“If it is truly continuous, registration should be open year-round,” he argued.
Orakwe urged security agencies and other stakeholders to support ongoing legislative reforms, stressing that they are vital for deepening democracy and strengthening electoral integrity in Nigeria.
