- Group Calls for Electoral Reforms to Prevent Anambra Violence
From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has expressed concerns about the potential for unprecedented political violence during the November 2025 Anambra State governorship election. The group’s findings suggest that the election may be marred by violence, including shootings, killings, property destruction, and other forms of violence aimed at creating an atmosphere of insecurity and scaring voters away.
Intersociety also believes that poll rigging enablers and their associated violent forces will launch attacks into Anambra from their safe haven in Imo State. These forces are reportedly linked to state and non-state actors in Imo, including the Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Matters.
The group predicts that Anambra’s election may resort to “guided voting” instead of widespread credible voting. This practice, according to Intersociety, has been prevalent in Anambra since 2017 and involves manipulating voter turnout and results.
Intersociety further highlights the low voter turnout in Anambra’s previous governorship elections, despite having the highest number of registered voters with PVCs in the Southeast. They attribute this to the introduction of “guided voting” and the lack of confidence in the electoral process.
To address these concerns, Intersociety calls for comprehensive reforms to the electoral process, including the provision for independent candidacy, the use of electronic and manual voting, and the detachment of electoral courts from regular courts. They also advocate for the elimination of “judicial technicalities” that have been used to subvert the will of the voters.
Regarding the 2023 Imo State governorship election, Intersociety calls for the nullification of the November 11 poll and the conduct of a fresh election, citing the shambolic nature of the previous election. They believe that this would restore public confidence in the judiciary and the electoral process.