As Anambra State heads to the polls tomorrow to elect a new governor, anxiety and uncertainty grip the state amid heavy security presence, fears of vote buying, and doubts over the credibility of the process.

The election, which will be the first major test for the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, comes at a critical time when public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system remains fragile.

Observers say the poll will not only test INEC’s logistical efficiency and neutrality but also reveal whether Amupitan can distinguish his leadership from that of his predecessor, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure was dogged by complaints of late deployment of materials, malfunctioning BVAS devices, and result transmission failures during the 2023 general elections.

About 60,000 security operatives drawn from the Police, Civil Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force have been deployed across 5,720 polling units to safeguard voters and electoral materials.

The Commissioner of Police for the election, Abayomi Shogunle, said the massive deployment was meant to guarantee safety and not intimidate voters.

“We want to assure residents that the election will be peaceful, transparent, and free of intimidation. Every eligible voter should come out and exercise their right,” Shogunle said.

However, the exclusion of the state-owned security outfit, Agunechemba, has sparked controversy. Opposition parties accused the Anambra government of using the group to influence past polls.

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) cautioned against the excessive militarisation of the election, warning that the deployment of armed forces and armoured vehicles could discourage voter turnout.

The group’s chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, said past “shows of force” had created fear among citizens, turning polling environments into “war zones.”

INEC has announced that 98.8 per cent of registered voters in the state have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Speaking in Abuja, Amupitan described the figure as one of the most impressive in recent elections, noting that it followed an extension of the collection deadline from October 29 to November 2 across the state’s 326 wards.

“This is a significant achievement. It reflects the enthusiasm of Anambra voters and the Commission’s effort to ensure no one is disenfranchised,” Amupitan said.

He disclosed that the Commission had deployed 6,879 BVAS devices, 24,000 ad hoc staff, and 83 boats to facilitate smooth logistics across the state, including riverine areas.

INEC, he added, had also made special arrangements for voters in Ihiala Local Council, where polling would take place under tight security due to threats of violence.

“Anyone attempting violence, vote-buying, or intimidation will face lawful consequences. Security will protect voters, and INEC is ready to deliver a credible election,” Amupitan assured.

Despite INEC’s assurances, concerns persist over possible irregularities and voter apathy. The CLEEN Foundation listed Ayamelum, Awka South, Onitsha North, Orumba South, and Ekwusigo as high-risk areas due to their history of political violence.

Similarly, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) lamented low voter education and confidence in the process.

CLO chairman, Vincent Ezekwueme, appealed to citizens to participate actively, saying, “Do not assume your vote will not count. INEC has pledged transparency, and we must all play our part.”

With 16 candidates in the race and 2.8 million registered voters, the outcome of tomorrow’s election is expected to have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Analysts say it will test the strength of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) against the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both of which have intensified grassroots campaigns.

Former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, warned security agencies and INEC to act responsibly, saying, “The world is watching. Whatever happens in Anambra will shape Nigeria’s democratic reputation.”

While optimism remains that the Amupitan-led INEC can restore credibility, sceptics like Wale Okunniyi of the National Consultative Front doubt significant improvement under the existing electoral framework.

“The same laws and systems that failed in 2023 remain in place. Without reform, little will change,” he said.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, confirmed that sensitive materials, including BVAS and result sheets, had been distributed to all Registration Area Centres (RACs) under joint supervision by security agencies and party agents.

She urged voters to come out en masse, assuring them of a peaceful and transparent process.

“Your votes will count. The process is secure, and INEC is fully prepared to conduct a credible election,” Agwu said.

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has cautioned African governments against celebrating Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth figures that fail to translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ welfare.

Speaking at the 65th anniversary of the Ford Foundation in West Africa, held in Abuja, Osinbajo described much of Africa’s economic growth as “statistical progress without social impact.”

He noted that despite the continent’s impressive GDP numbers, millions of Africans continue to grapple with weak healthcare systems, poor education, unemployment, and poverty.

“Africa has for years recorded some of the world’s fastest GDP growth rates,” Osinbajo said.

“Yet, we remain the continent with the lowest overall quality of life, from health to education, infrastructure, and economic stability. GDP growth does not mean development. It does not automatically create jobs or provide a decent life.”

The former vice president reflected on his experience as chair of Nigeria’s economic management team between 2016 and 2019, saying it was “deeply frustrating” to see the gap between government rhetoric and the everyday realities of citizens.

“People would ask, ‘Which growth are you talking about? I can’t pay my child’s school fees or hospital bills.’ It became clear that the more government celebrated GDP figures, the more alienated citizens felt,” he said.

Osinbajo urged policymakers to reimagine economic growth through social justice and inclusion, stressing that fair access to opportunities, resources, and protections must be the foundation of every development strategy.

He called for an end to “trickle-down” policies, advocating instead for bottom-up investments that prioritise rural communities, women, youth, and informal workers who sustain the continent’s economy.

Citing success stories from other nations, Osinbajo pointed to Bangladesh’s education reforms, Rwanda’s gender inclusion policies, and the Lagos judicial reforms of 1999, which saw women judges elevated and corruption decline, as examples of how inclusivity drives national productivity.

He also described corruption as “the most severe form of social injustice,” arguing that it deprives citizens of public services and undermines development.

“Until corruption is treated as an assault on social justice, Africa will continue to measure progress in numbers that do not change lives,” he warned.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, lauded the Ford Foundation for its decades-long commitment to human development and inclusion in West Africa.

Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu, the Foundation’s Regional Director for West Africa, recalled that Ford began operations in Lagos in 1960 and has since supported initiatives on education, human rights, gender equality, cultural expression, and environmental justice across Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal.

She reaffirmed the organisation’s dedication to local ownership and accountability, rather than externally imposed solutions.

Martín Abregu, the Foundation’s Senior Vice President, added that since its establishment over 80 years ago in the United States, the Ford Foundation’s mission has evolved into a global effort to advance equity and social justice.

As political parties intensify efforts to win voters ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, anxiety is growing over the perceived militarisation of the electoral process, vote buying, and insecurity that could affect voter turnout.

No fewer than 60,000 security personnel from the Police, Civil Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force have been deployed to man the 5,720 polling units across the state, where 16 governorship candidates will contest for the top seat before 2.8 million registered voters.

Confirming the development, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Abayomi Shogunle, disclosed that the Police alone have deployed 45,000 officers to ensure safety of lives and property during the exercise.

According to him, a Tactical Force Team from the Force Headquarters has also been stationed in the state, supported by helicopters and drones for aerial surveillance.

The air operations, he said, would complement land patrols and intelligence-led policing efforts across the 21 local government areas.

However, security deployment plans took a new twist after the Police barred the state-owned security outfit, Agunechemba, from taking part in the election, following warnings from opposition parties that their involvement could compromise neutrality.

Meanwhile, former Secretary to the Anambra State Government (SSG), Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has endorsed John Chuma Nwosu, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of Saturday’s poll.

Obaze, a former United Nations official, said his support was inspired by Nwosu’s vision and commitment to reform, stressing that Anambra needed “a new direction and leadership that understands governance beyond rhetoric.”

He said: “Anambra is at a crossroads. I do not criticise public officials for the sake of it, I’ve worked at federal, international, and state levels, so I understand the challenges of governance. But it is hypocritical for elites who privately condemn this administration to publicly endorse it.”

Lamenting the state of insecurity, Obaze questioned why “those who fear visiting their home state now support the continuity of a government that cannot guarantee their safety.”

He added that of all the contestants, Nwosu “represents the best opportunity for the people of Anambra to reclaim responsible governance.”

Obaze urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free, fair, and credible poll, warning that public confidence in democracy depended on transparency at every stage of the process.