By PERPETUA ONUEGBU

Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) a Civil Society Organization (CSO) on Friday unveiled a-91 page Pre-Election Security Risk Assessment Report Dissemination ahead of the Nov. 8, Anambra governorship election.

Mr. Bukola Idowu, Executive Director, KDI, in his opening remarks at the unveiling of the assessment report in Abuja, said that it was expected to help stakeholders, including INEC and security agencies.

Idowu says this was to ensure early preparations for a free, fair, and credible election in the state.

According to him, 2,057 respondents across 21 LGAs were employed for the quantitative sample survey that was used to gather the report.

He added that LGA-based monitor reporting incidents and trends on a fixed schedule were applied, adding that electoral officials, security personnel and community leaders were part of the process.

He said that key findings indicated that political violence remained a persistent threat, with lingering distrust stemming from past episodes of politically motivated violence.

Other findings he said were rivalries intensifying resentment, competition among political actors and public distrust of security agents among other findings.

“One of the major risks we identified is the potential for misinformation and disinformation, especially with the rise of AI-generated content that can manipulate digital information and incite violence.

“The other one is to ask INEC ahead to tighten the logistics when it comes to this election, because logistical challenges are not going to be seen as a mere mistake in this election, it is going to be seen as a platform of manipulation.

“That is why INEC and whoever they are signing their MoU with need to tighten the logistics issue.

“Security agencies must deploy adequately and at the same time make sure that they are neutral as they move into that election,” Idowu said.

The KDI executive director while noting that the report showed that threats from non-state actors appeared weaker compared to 2021, however cautioned against complacency as groups like IPOB could be exploited.

“The reduced activity of these groups does not mean security agencies should go to sleep.

“Also, INEC should ensure that personnel trained for the election are those deployed on Election Day to avoid the recurrent gap between preparation and field execution.

“The report showed that most Ad-hoc staff hardly know how to execute elections on election days.

“Low voter turnout was also flagged as a critical issue with participation in the last governorship election put at about 10 per cent, therefore the need for all hands on deck to encourage greater civic participation this time,” he added.

Idowu further noted that the political climate in Anambra was calmer than in 2021, but warned that emerging challenges could undermine the credibility of the polls.

He acknowledged growing openness among agencies to engage with civil society reports and recommendations, citing the relatively peaceful conduct of the recent Ondo and Edo elections as examples to build upon.

William Robinson, Block Lead for Governance and Stability Bock, UKFCDO said it was essential that government institutions, political actors, civil society, media and residents work collaboratively to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

“We recognize that elections are a cornerstone of democracy but beyond the act of voting, it is the integrity of the entire electoral process that determines the strength and legitimacy of democratic governance.

“That is why initiatives like this by KDI matters. By identifying risks and offering practical recommendations, civil society plays a critical role in promoting transparency, reducing violence and fostering public trust.

“We will continue to stand with you as you advance these important processes, by working together to ensure that Anambra 2025 is peaceful, inclusive and reflects people’s will,” Robinson said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report incorporates findings from KDI’s 61 trained long-term monitors deployed across all 21 local government areas of Anambra and the neighbouring states.

NAN also reports that the Pre-Election Security Risk Assessment methodology is to track the pre-election environment, observe trends, and document both electoral and non-electoral violence with the aim to combat them. (NAN)

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