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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  KIMPACT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (KDI)’S PRELIMINARY STATEMENT AHEAD OF THE ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION  Friday, November 5, 2021 Awka, Anambra State.  Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) acknowledges the effort of all the stakeholders working assiduously towards the peaceful conduct of November 6, 2021, Anambra State governorship election, despite the tension and fear that have characterised the pre-election environment. We congratulate the National Peace Committee on the successful conduct of the peace accord. KDI urges all political parties’ leadership and candidates to abide by the signed peace accord and call their supporters to respect and abide by the same. With all efforts and interventions, KDI looks forward to a peaceful election day tomorrow.  We commend the commitment of the security agencies to secure the election environment. We cannot but express the worries of the people of Anambra on police brutality and human rights violation, as shown in our Election Security Risk Assessment (ESRA). At this moment, the security agents are encouraged to note that their presence is expected to build the confidence for a secured voting environment and not to scare voters away consciously or unconsciously with their conduct. We urge the deployed security operative to be professional in their conduct and not contribute to citizens’ anxiety.  KDI also uses this medium to urge the people of Anambra to come out en-masse to vote for their choice, knowing that IPOB has called off its sit-at-home order. KDI’s significant concern on the gubernatorial election majorly centres on voter turnout, knowing that turnout in Anambra State has decreased since the 2010 gubernatorial election.  This trajectory of voter turnout, coupled with the spate of insecurity trailing the southeast region of Nigeria, sends a signal of worry on voter turnout.  Furthermore, We also charge INEC to finalise all logistics today as any logistical challenge might increase the already tense political atmosphere, which could trigger Electoral Violence. The commission must ensure that all sensitive materials such as ballot papers are adequate and electoral equipment are in functional order. Voting materials and ad-hoc staff should arrive at the appropriate polling units right on time to avoid the late commencement of polls. We urge the election officials to show a high degree of competence at the polling unit because any display of partiality and incompetence is a potential for violence.  Likewise, KDI would like to encourage all citizens to ensure that they get information from well-respected and proven websites, news outlets and social media platforms. They are also urged to fact check information before circulating them because fake news can trigger election violence- It is false information, often designed to mislead and aimed at heating the polity.  Kimpact Election Violence Situation Room working with partners from across the 21 local government areas of the State, will be escalating issues of violence and potential for violence to the security agents and INEC for swift response and action. Given this, citizens are encouraged to report issues of violence, and those capable of causing violence to Kimpact’s Situation Room through our toll-free-line 08000010000.  Signed Bukola Idowu Executive Director Kimpact Development Initiative. |
| About NEVR Nigeria Election Violence Report (NEVR) is KDI’s citizen-led violence tracking initiative to provide an impartial voice on violent incidents in Nigeria, primarily electoral and armed conflict. This is done by using a scientific approach to quantify the impact of insecurity and violent incidents on democratic stability. KDI uses VTrack to document and publish disaggregated data on electoral violence and inform stakeholders in numbers why the security of live and properties matters. |
