In its efforts to improve the quality and integrity of the voter’s register and to give the public the opportunity to make claims and/or objections, INEC displayed the temporary register of voters across all the 326 wards in Anambra from Tuesday, September 7th to Saturday, September 11th. The commission also organized training for its Election Monitoring & Support Center (EMSC) Amber zone implementers from September 16 to 17 in Awka. The training was conducted with support from the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES).
As observed and reported in the first reporting period, security threats by the secessionist group (IPOB) would likely pose a challenge for the smooth conduct of the state election. The indiscriminate Monday sit-at-home order which started on August 9, 2021, is gradually being emboldened as it was extended to other days of the week; this was observed on Tuesday, September 14 and Friday, September 17, 2021. Even though the sit-at-home was called off on Thursday, September 16th, most people in Anambra observed the sit- at home on September 17 for fear of victimization by IPOB or their supporters. Beyond the sit-home-order, is the worrying reports of attacks on citizens and pockets of criminal activities enabled by the vulnerable security situation in the state. In addition, is the challenge of communal conflicts observed in some LGA’s in this reporting period.
Yiaga Africa has a total of 26 Long Term Observers (LTOs) deployed in the 21 Local Government Areas in Anambra state, to observe the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), voter education and information activities, political campaign activities, inclusion of women, persons living with disabilities (PWDs) and youths, as well as violence monitoring. This report is the second pre-election observation report to be issued; it reflects the findings between September 10th, – 23th, 2021. The findings in the report cover the 21 LGAs in Anambra state.Anambra 2021: Yiaga Africa’s WatchingTheVote Second Pre-election Observation Report.
